Three people from Taiwan confirmed dead in Mexico quake

Three people from the Taiwan region have been confirmed dead in the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that hit central Mexico on Tuesday.

Local authorities said the three were among five from Taiwan who were trapped in the debris of a building in downtown Mexico City. The two others are still missing at present and the search is ongoing.

Rescue personnel work on a collapsed building, a day after a devastating 7.1 earthquake, in the Del Valle neighborhood of Mexico City, Wednesday, September 20, 2107. Efforts continue at the scenes of dozens of collapsed buildings, where firefighters, police, soldiers and civilians continue their search to reach the living. [Photo: AP/Moises Castillo]

The Chinese embassy has expressed condolences over the deaths and is monitoring the ongoing search and rescue work.

The earthquake is known to have claimed 273 lives so far.