Taiwan star Barbie Hsu dies at 48

“During the Lunar New Year, or family came to Japan for vacation. My dearest sister Barbie has unfortunately left us after getting pneumonia, triggered by an influenza,” Dee Hsu said in a statement shared by her manager.

“I’m thankful to be her sister in this lifetime, taking care of each other … I will always be grateful to her and remember her.”

Rumours of Hsu’s death had circulated since Sunday, after a popular Facebook account published a cryptic post claiming that a 48-year-old Taiwanese celebrity had died.

Confirmation of her death on Monday sent shockwaves among fans, and an triggered an outpouring of sympathy and condolences on social media.

Hsu was the top trending topic on Weibo Monday morning. “I can’t believe it,” reads one comment – echoing hundreds of similar sentiments circulating on Chinese social media.

In Meteor Garden, Hsu played Shancai, a poor student from a middle class family who attends an elite private school and finds herself entangled in a love web among the heirs of wealthy families, played by members of the Taiwanese boyband F4.

Meteor Garden is based on a 1990s Japanese manga series of the same name.

The show has continued to attract fans across the region. Following the massive success of the 2001 series, versions of the story have also been produced in Japan, South Korea, mainland China, and India.