Rescuers in Taiwan are searching for 10 people who are still unaccounted for after Wednesday's powerful earthquake.

The crucial 72-hour mark after which the chance of survival in a disaster drops sharply comes on Saturday morning.

Authorities say as of Friday night, 10 people were confirmed dead and 1,133 others injured.

There are reports of severe damage to buildings in the eastern county of Hualien near the epicenter.

Two Singaporean nationals are among the missing.

Many of those unaccounted for are believed to have been around Taroko Gorge, a popular tourist destination where rescuers continued their search on Friday.

But the work has been hindered by frequent tremors. Rain forecast for wide areas on Saturday is also raising concerns.

The disaster has severed roads, and more than 600 people remain stranded at hotels and other places around the gorge.

Firefighters and military personnel are involved in the search-and-rescue effort.

Workers on Friday began demolishing a nine-story building in central Hualien City that was tilted by the quake.