Rescuers in Taiwan search for missing as earthquake death toll rises to 10

A partially collapsed building stands at a titled angle a day after a powerful earthquake struck in Hualien City, eastern Taiwan (Chiang Ying-ying/AP)

Rescuers are searching for dozens of people still missing a day after Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in a quarter of a century damaged buildings, killed 10 people and left others stranded in remote areas.

In the eastern coastal city of Hualien near the epicentre, workers used an excavator to stabilise the base of a damaged building with construction materials as officials took samples of its exterior and chickens pecked among potted plants on its slanted roof.