TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - Twenty-four hours after a powerful earthquake hit Taiwan, toppling high-rise buildings and destroying homes across the island, rescue workers pulled bodies from the ruins one by one. The death toll topped 1,700 early Wednesday. More than 100,000 Taiwanese were left homeless by the quake, which shook millions awake at 1:45 a.m. Tuesday (1:45 p.m. ET Monday), buckled roads, severed bridges and cut off electric service.

By early Wednesday, officials said 1,712 people were dead, more than 4,000 were hurt and almost 3,000 were believed trapped in the rubble. Another 216 were missing, according to the Interior Ministry's disaster management center.