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Taiwan appeals for foreign help Taiwan appeals for foreign help
(about 2 hours later)
Taiwan has appealed for international technical assistance to help rescue more than 2,000 people stranded after Typhoon Morakot caused major mudslides.Taiwan has appealed for international technical assistance to help rescue more than 2,000 people stranded after Typhoon Morakot caused major mudslides.
The Taiwanese authorities say they need giant cargo aircraft able to drop large earth diggers and other machinery into remote mountain areas to re-open roads.The Taiwanese authorities say they need giant cargo aircraft able to drop large earth diggers and other machinery into remote mountain areas to re-open roads.
Correspondents say only Russia and the US are believed to have such aircraft.Correspondents say only Russia and the US are believed to have such aircraft.
Relatives of those stranded and of the hundreds feared dead have urged the government to speed up rescue efforts.Relatives of those stranded and of the hundreds feared dead have urged the government to speed up rescue efforts.
Many have been waiting for days at the rescue operation centre in Qishan for news of family members missing since the typhoon struck over the weekend. See graphic showing level of rainfall Morakot brought to TaiwanMany have been waiting for days at the rescue operation centre in Qishan for news of family members missing since the typhoon struck over the weekend. See graphic showing level of rainfall Morakot brought to Taiwan
Hundreds of people feared buried by mudslides in the south of the country have been found alive.Hundreds of people feared buried by mudslides in the south of the country have been found alive.
But Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou - who visited Qishan on Wednesday - said hundreds more were likely to have died. The number of confirmed dead stands at 108. But Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou - who visited the area on Wednesday - said hundreds more were likely to have died. The number of confirmed dead stands at 108.
In pictures: Taiwan rescue 'Washed away by the typhoon' Eyewitness: Pacific storms In pictures: Taiwan rescue 'Washed away by the typhoon' Eyewitness: Pacific storms
The Taiwanese government is sending more than 4,000 extra soldiers to speed up rescue efforts. The Taiwanese government is sending more than 4,000 extra soldiers to speed up rescue efforts, with thousands already working to reach areas cut off when roads and bridges were swept away.
Speaking while inspecting the rescue operation, President Ma said: "We welcome all forms of aid, and we also need equipment, especially helicopters that can carry cranes." Speaking while inspecting the rescue operations, President Ma said: "We welcome all forms of aid, and we also need equipment, especially helicopters that can carry cranes."
He assured anxious relatives waiting for news that no effort would be spared to find their loved ones.He assured anxious relatives waiting for news that no effort would be spared to find their loved ones.
The BBC's Cindy Sui in Kaohsiung county, near the most devastated areas, says that while earth diggers are already at work outside the villages cut off by mudslides, the authorities believe that if they can get the machinery inside then the mud and debris will be cleared more quickly.The BBC's Cindy Sui in Kaohsiung county, near the most devastated areas, says that while earth diggers are already at work outside the villages cut off by mudslides, the authorities believe that if they can get the machinery inside then the mud and debris will be cleared more quickly.
About 1,000 pre-fabricated houses for families left homeless are also needed, our correspondent adds, as well as supplies of disinfectant to help prevent diseases spreading.About 1,000 pre-fabricated houses for families left homeless are also needed, our correspondent adds, as well as supplies of disinfectant to help prevent diseases spreading.
Military helicopters have been airlifting some of the survivors to safety, and dropping provisions for others, but continuing rain has hampered their efforts. The AFP news agency reports that nearly 14,000 survivors have been evacuated from the worst-affected areas. Military helicopters have been dropping provisions for others, but continuing rain has hampered their efforts.
It is now confirmed that all three crew aboard a rescue helicopter which crashed in the bad weather on Tuesday were killed. It is now confirmed that all three crew aboard a rescue helicopter which crashed in bad weather on Tuesday were killed.
The typhoon struck Taiwan at the weekend, causing the worst flooding in 50 years.The typhoon struck Taiwan at the weekend, causing the worst flooding in 50 years.
Extra troopsExtra troops
The BBC's Alastair Leithead, at the Qishan rescue base, says thousands of extra Taiwanese troops have been drafted in to help the rescue efforts.The BBC's Alastair Leithead, at the Qishan rescue base, says thousands of extra Taiwanese troops have been drafted in to help the rescue efforts.
TYPHOON MORAKOT Deluged Taiwan with at least two metres (80in) of rain over the weekendCaused the country's worst flooding in 50 yearsSome 108 people confirmed dead, hundreds unaccounted for
The military is now trying to push out into remote areas on foot as well as by helicopter to establish who is most in need of help, he says.The military is now trying to push out into remote areas on foot as well as by helicopter to establish who is most in need of help, he says.
There is still no official estimate of how many people may have died in the mudslides and flooding that followed the storm. According to news reports, a wooden sign saying "32 dead, SOS" was posted by a collapsed bridge at the only entrance to one village, Hsinfa, on Wednesday. Several survivors were pulled to safety using ropes thrown across the river.
The National Fire Agency said about 200 people were awaiting rescue from a hot spring resort in Liukuei, while the military said it had found another 700 survivors in the area and was starting to move them to safety, the AFP news agency reports.
Villagers in some areas are at further risk as lakes created by floodwaters burst their banks, relief official Hsu Chin-biao told the Associated Press news agency.
Some 300 people in the township of Toayuan had been told to run to higher ground about half an hour before floods crashed down when an embankment holding back a lake gave way, he said.
Typhoon Morakot, which lashed Taiwan with at least two metres (80in) of rain over the weekend, has caused at least $225m (£135m) in agricultural damage and left tens of thousands of homes without power and water.Typhoon Morakot, which lashed Taiwan with at least two metres (80in) of rain over the weekend, has caused at least $225m (£135m) in agricultural damage and left tens of thousands of homes without power and water.
The storm also hit mainland China, where about 1.4 million people were evacuated from coastal areas, eight people died in flooding and up to 10,000 homes were destroyed.The storm also hit mainland China, where about 1.4 million people were evacuated from coastal areas, eight people died in flooding and up to 10,000 homes were destroyed.
TAIWAN FLOODED BY TYPHOON MORAKOT 1. Rainfall recorded in Alishan, Taiwan between 7-9 August 2009 2. Average height of Taiwanese male 3. Height of Toyota LandcruiserTAIWAN FLOODED BY TYPHOON MORAKOT 1. Rainfall recorded in Alishan, Taiwan between 7-9 August 2009 2. Average height of Taiwanese male 3. Height of Toyota Landcruiser
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