This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8200833.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Taiwan mudslide death toll rises | Taiwan mudslide death toll rises |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 390 people are believed to have been buried alive in the Taiwanese village worst affected by a massive mudslide caused by a typhoon. | |
| It is the first time the government has released a firm estimate of the number of people they believe might have been killed in Hsiaolin village. | It is the first time the government has released a firm estimate of the number of people they believe might have been killed in Hsiaolin village. |
| Thousands of people are still stranded by the worst mudslides and floods. | Thousands of people are still stranded by the worst mudslides and floods. |
| Last weekend's typhoon caused Taiwan's worst flooding for 50 years, resulting in 117 confirmed deaths so far. | Last weekend's typhoon caused Taiwan's worst flooding for 50 years, resulting in 117 confirmed deaths so far. |
| In pictures: Taiwan misery 'Devil' typhoon's impact | In pictures: Taiwan misery 'Devil' typhoon's impact |
| The floods have washed out roads, swept away bridges and sent low-rise buildings crashing into rivers, leaving many mountain villages accessible only by air. | The floods have washed out roads, swept away bridges and sent low-rise buildings crashing into rivers, leaving many mountain villages accessible only by air. |
| Hundreds of survivors have been airlifted from Hsiaolin village, which was hit by a massive mudslide that covered all but two houses, and thousands more from other settlements in central and southern Taiwan. | Hundreds of survivors have been airlifted from Hsiaolin village, which was hit by a massive mudslide that covered all but two houses, and thousands more from other settlements in central and southern Taiwan. |
| But Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou has said he expects the number killed to climb to more than 500 people. | But Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou has said he expects the number killed to climb to more than 500 people. |
| Hundreds had been feared dead, but the government had not previously given an estimated overall death toll. | Hundreds had been feared dead, but the government had not previously given an estimated overall death toll. |
| Help on way? | Help on way? |
| Taiwan's government says it has received offers of help from the international community, including the European Union and the US. See map of affected area | Taiwan's government says it has received offers of help from the international community, including the European Union and the US. See map of affected area |
| But it has stressed the need for very specific technical assistance - namely giant cargo helicopters that can carry large earth diggers and other machinery into remote mountain areas to help re-open roads. | But it has stressed the need for very specific technical assistance - namely giant cargo helicopters that can carry large earth diggers and other machinery into remote mountain areas to help re-open roads. |
| The government has also requested prefabricated buildings to help house those left homeless by the flooding and supplies of disinfectant, to try to prevent the spread of disease. | The government has also requested prefabricated buildings to help house those left homeless by the flooding and supplies of disinfectant, to try to prevent the spread of disease. |
| TYPHOON MORAKOT Deluged Taiwan with at least two metres (80in) of rain over the weekendCaused the country's worst flooding in 50 yearsSome 117 people confirmed dead, another 500 believed killedMore than 14,000 people airlifted out of affected areas Eyewitness: Pacific storms | TYPHOON MORAKOT Deluged Taiwan with at least two metres (80in) of rain over the weekendCaused the country's worst flooding in 50 yearsSome 117 people confirmed dead, another 500 believed killedMore than 14,000 people airlifted out of affected areas Eyewitness: Pacific storms |
| Visiting the area earlier this week, President Ma assured anxious relatives that no effort would be spared to find their loved ones, as anger began to rise over the government response. | Visiting the area earlier this week, President Ma assured anxious relatives that no effort would be spared to find their loved ones, as anger began to rise over the government response. |
| The families of those stranded and of the hundreds feared dead have urged the government to speed up rescue efforts. | The families 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 relatives missing since the typhoon struck over the weekend. | Many have been waiting for days at the rescue operation centre in Qishan for news of relatives missing since the typhoon struck over the weekend. |
| Critics say the authorities were too slow to realise the magnitude of the disaster. Some of those stranded say they have received no help for days and are short of food and water. | Critics say the authorities were too slow to realise the magnitude of the disaster. Some of those stranded say they have received no help for days and are short of food and water. |
| More than 14,000 people have been evacuated by air from the worst-affected areas. Others have been carried to safety over ravines where bridges have collapsed by soldiers using cables and makeshift ziplines. | More than 14,000 people have been evacuated by air from the worst-affected areas. Others have been carried to safety over ravines where bridges have collapsed by soldiers using cables and makeshift ziplines. |
| Military helicopters have been dropping provisions for those still stranded, but poor weather has hampered their work. Soldiers have also been trying to reach remote settlements on foot. | Military helicopters have been dropping provisions for those still stranded, but poor weather has hampered their work. Soldiers have also been trying to reach remote settlements on foot. |
| The flooding has destroyed 34 bridges and severed 253 sections of road in Taiwan, Reuters news agency quotes the transportation ministry as saying, with repairs likely to take up to three years in the worst-affected areas. | The flooding has destroyed 34 bridges and severed 253 sections of road in Taiwan, Reuters news agency quotes the transportation ministry as saying, with repairs likely to take up to three years in the worst-affected areas. |
| Officials in the island's south-eastern Taitung county estimated that nearly 3,700 people remained cut off as of Friday morning, the AFP news agency reports, while in central Chiayi county some 9,000 were thought to be stranded. | Officials in the island's south-eastern Taitung county estimated that nearly 3,700 people remained cut off as of Friday morning, the AFP news agency reports, while in central Chiayi county some 9,000 were thought to be stranded. |
| Some 2,000 people are still to be evacuated in Kaohsiung county, the area worst hit and where the rescue operations in Hsaiolin and other villages have been focused, AFP quotes a county magistrate as saying. | Some 2,000 people are still to be evacuated in Kaohsiung county, the area worst hit and where the rescue operations in Hsaiolin and other villages have been focused, AFP quotes a county magistrate as saying. |
| Many of the affected villages are inhabited by aborigines, who farm the mountainous terrain. | Many of the affected villages are inhabited by aborigines, who farm the mountainous terrain. |
| Typhoon Morakot, which lashed Taiwan with at least 200cm (80in) of rain last weekend, has caused at least $910m (£550m) in damages to agriculture and infrastructure, Reuters reports. | Typhoon Morakot, which lashed Taiwan with at least 200cm (80in) of rain last weekend, has caused at least $910m (£550m) in damages to agriculture and infrastructure, Reuters reports. |
| Reconstruction is expected to cost some $3.65bn (£2.2bn). | Reconstruction is expected to cost some $3.65bn (£2.2bn). |
| TAIWAN'S WORST-AFFECTED AREAS Qishan - rescue operation centre established here, thousands of troops drafted in to help.Liukuei - 200 people awaiting rescue from hot spring resort, with another 700 survivors in the area.Hsinfa - 32 people reported dead, survivors pulled to safety using ropes thrown across river.Hsiaolin - hundreds feared dead following mudslides the morning after Taiwan's Father's Day.Taoyuan - residents told to run to higher ground as embankment holding back lake gave way. | TAIWAN'S WORST-AFFECTED AREAS Qishan - rescue operation centre established here, thousands of troops drafted in to help.Liukuei - 200 people awaiting rescue from hot spring resort, with another 700 survivors in the area.Hsinfa - 32 people reported dead, survivors pulled to safety using ropes thrown across river.Hsiaolin - hundreds feared dead following mudslides the morning after Taiwan's Father's Day.Taoyuan - residents told to run to higher ground as embankment holding back lake gave way. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |
| Are you in the region? Have you been affected by the typhoons and the landslides? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in the region? Have you been affected by the typhoons and the landslides? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |