At least nine dead, hundreds injured after Taiwan hit by strong earthquake

Taiwan's president-elect and current vice president, Lai Ching-te, third from right, and other officials survey the damage in Hualien after a major earthquake hit eastern Taiwan [Central News Agency via AFP]

At least nine people have been killed and more than 900 others injured after Taiwan was rocked by its biggest earthquake in a quarter-century.

The magnitude 7.2 tremor on Wednesday shook buildings off their foundations and caused landslides in the eastern part of the island. Dozens of buildings in the eastern city of Hualien collapsed.