Despite the outpouring of aid from Mexican authorities and the public, three victims from Taiwan were confirmed dead after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook central Mexico on Sept. 19.

According to an announcement released by the Chinese Embassy in Mexico on Thursday, the deaths of three of the five Taiwanese victims that were trapped in a collapsed local clothing factory have been confirmed, while the other two remain missing. As the chance of survival diminishes with each passing hour, the Chinese Embassy has already sent its personnel to the disaster scene, showing condolences to the victims and their family.

As of press time, there are thousands of professionals and volunteers carrying out rescue missions at the collapsed factory, but the severe damage makes it difficult to carry out operations, People’s Daily reported.

“It’s a pity that over 200 people were killed by the disaster. As a city with 20 million people, we’ve experienced a difficult test together,” Alejandro, a local taxi driver told People’s Daily.

“We’ll stay until the end, as long as there are people in need of our aid,” Edgar, a volunteer who is part of a private rescue team from the northern state Chihuahua, told People’s Daily. He added that it took his 10-member team 20 hours to get to the disaster scene, and they have been saving people since their arrival.

The lethal earthquake, which killed at least 273 people as of press time, also destroyed 40 buildings in the capital Mexico City. Among the deceased victims, 137 people were killed in the capital, 73 in Morelos state, 43 in Puebla State, 13 in the State of Mexico, six in Guerrero State, and one in Oaxaca State.