Politics: Four dead, 243 injured after major 6.4 earthquake hits Taiwan's east coast

A hotel has collapsed and several buildings have been damaged in Hualien.

A major 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan's east coast shortly before midnight Tuesday (local time), killing four and injuring as many as 243 people.

The number of injured continues to rise as relief teams search through the rubble.

85 people were still missing, according to government data, and many of them were believed to be trapped inside collapsed buildings, Reuters reported.

The quake originated about 13 miles (21 kilometers) northeast of the coastal Hualien City, where several buildings were damaged and the Marshal Hotel collapsed.

The number of deaths was confirmed by Taiwan’s Premier William Lai at an emergency government meeting shortly after the quake.

Several aftershocks hit the area, but no tsunami warnings were issued.

Hualien is a popular tourist destination and home to about 100,000 people.

Tremors were also felt in the capital city of Taipei, according to the US Geological Survey.

A hotel has collapsed and several buildings have been damaged in Hualien. Read Full Story