HONG KONG — Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu has died from pneumonia after contracting influenza while on a vacation in Japan, local media report. She was 48.

Hsu is one of the biggest names in the Mandarin-speaking world and is best known for starring in the 2001 TV series Meteor Garden.

Meteor Garden was dubbed in several languages and made Hsu a big star in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

Her sister, Dee Hsu, confirmed her death to Taiwan's TVBS News on Monday.

"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 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."

Hsu started her career in show business at 17 years old as part of a pop duo with her sister, Dee. The pair went on to become popular hosts, known for their animated style and sense of humour.

Rumors 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.

"She is only 48 years old... this is too sudden," reads another Weibo comment. "This is a little difficult to accept."

Also trending on Weibo are posts about influenza in Japan.

Hsu has a history of epilepsy and heart disease. She had on previous occasions been hospitalised after experiencing seizures.

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.

Her Meteor Garden co-star, Ken Chu, posted a blank black image on Instagram, as well as a group photo with Hsu. "What a shock," he wrote on Weibo. — BBC