The casualty count from Wednesday's powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Taiwan has climbed to 10 individuals, with hundreds more stranded or trapped, according to Taiwanese officials.
At least 11 people are unaccounted for, and about 705 individuals require rescue, authorities stated.
A total of 688 individuals, previously reported at 611, are stranded near the Silks Palace Hotel and Tien Hsiang Youth Activity Center, officials reported in a Thursday night local time update.
The rescue team stationed there will provide necessary aid during emergencies and work on evacuation plans.
Ten Silks Palace Hotel employees are still marooned at the Jiuqu Cave area, a decrease from the previous count of 30 employees and 24 tourists earlier on Thursday.
The earthquake, which struck just before 8 a.m. on Wednesday, had its epicenter near Hualien, a city on the eastern coast.
Over 100 aftershocks, including one with a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 also near Hualien, have hit the island, as per the U.S. Geological Survey.
Search and rescue teams managed to reach some stranded individuals at the Silks Palace Hotel early on Thursday, including one person with apparent broken legs, as reported by Minister of the Interior Lin Yu-chang in a social media post.
Aerial cameras spotted others in a minibus on Taiwan Highway 8, a road that passes through the affected area.
"We are now also requesting the Meteorological Agency to provide the latest weather forecast to determine if the weather allows aircrews to transport relevant personnel and supplies to the Tianxiang area," Lin said. "
As long as the weather permits, we will use every available minute to rescue those trapped and in need of assistance."