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| Taiwan mudslide death toll rises | Taiwan mudslide death toll rises |
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| Taiwan's president says the number of people killed in mudslides and floods caused by a typhoon could exceed 500, almost 400 of them in a single village. | |
| Hsiaolin was hit by a massive mudslide that covered all but two houses - and officials now say those missing in the village were probably buried alive. | Hsiaolin was hit by a massive mudslide that covered all but two houses - and officials now say those missing in the village were probably buried alive. |
| The official death toll has already climber to 117 but is set to go higher. | |
| The military hopes on Friday to airlift out the nearly 2,000 people who remain stranded in the surrounding area. | The military hopes on Friday to airlift out the nearly 2,000 people who remain stranded in the surrounding area. |
| Last weekend's typhoon caused Taiwan's worst flooding for 50 years. | Last weekend's typhoon caused Taiwan's worst flooding for 50 years. |
| In central and southern Taiwan, roads have been washed out, bridges swept away and low-rise buildings sent crashing into rivers. Many mountain villages can only be accessed by air now. | In central and southern Taiwan, roads have been washed out, bridges swept away and low-rise buildings sent crashing into rivers. Many mountain villages can only be accessed by air now. |
| In pictures: Taiwan misery 'Devil' typhoon's impact | In pictures: Taiwan misery 'Devil' typhoon's impact |
| Hundreds had been feared dead in the wake of Typhoon Morakot, but the government had not previously given an estimated total figure for those killed. | |
| Speaking at a national security meeting on Friday, President Ma Ying-jeou said: "With 117 confirmed deaths from the typhoon and some 380 people feared buried by mudslides in Hsiaolin village, Taiwan's death toll could rise to more than 500." | Speaking at a national security meeting on Friday, President Ma Ying-jeou said: "With 117 confirmed deaths from the typhoon and some 380 people feared buried by mudslides in Hsiaolin village, Taiwan's death toll could rise to more than 500." |
| Over the past few days, thousands of people have been airlifted to safety from the settlements cut off by the mudslides and flooding, some 2,000 on Thursday alone. | Over the past few days, thousands of people have been airlifted to safety from the settlements cut off by the mudslides and flooding, some 2,000 on Thursday alone. |
| The BBC's Cindy Sui, who is in Kaohsiung county near Hsiaolin, says the authorities are confident they can bring out the remaining 1,900 people thought to be stranded in the area on Friday. | The BBC's Cindy Sui, who is in Kaohsiung county near Hsiaolin, says the authorities are confident they can bring out the remaining 1,900 people thought to be stranded in the area on Friday. |
| The military has enough helicopters now, she says, and the weather has improved. Troops are now being sent on foot into some steep valleys that are hard to search from the air, she adds. | The military has enough helicopters now, she says, and the weather has improved. Troops are now being sent on foot into some steep valleys that are hard to search from the air, she adds. |
| Many of the worst-affected villages are inhabited by aborigines, who farm the mountainous terrain. | Many of the worst-affected villages are inhabited by aborigines, who farm the mountainous terrain. |
| Thousands more people are believed to be stranded in remote settlements elsewhere in southern and central Taiwan. | Thousands more people are believed to be stranded in remote settlements elsewhere in southern and central Taiwan. |
| 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. |
| AT THE SCENE The BBC's Cindy Sui, in Kaohsiung county | AT THE SCENE The BBC's Cindy Sui, in Kaohsiung county |
| The announcement by the president about Hsiaolin is the families' worst fear come true. | The announcement by the president about Hsiaolin is the families' worst fear come true. |
| They had been holding out hope that there was some way of finding more survivors. | They had been holding out hope that there was some way of finding more survivors. |
| People are saying that the government should have done more to warn communities to evacuate because typhoons are not uncommon in Taiwan. They happen every year and can be predicted. | People are saying that the government should have done more to warn communities to evacuate because typhoons are not uncommon in Taiwan. They happen every year and can be predicted. |
| The government is saying that this typhoon behaved unusually because it lasted longer than most - it stayed for three to four days - and in the span of four days it dropped about half the annual rainfall that most places in Taiwan expect. | The government is saying that this typhoon behaved unusually because it lasted longer than most - it stayed for three to four days - and in the span of four days it dropped about half the annual rainfall that most places in Taiwan expect. |
| The roads, bridges and houses simply could not cope. | The roads, bridges and houses simply could not cope. |
| 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. |
| 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 earlier this week hampered their work. | Military helicopters have been dropping provisions for those still stranded, but poor weather earlier this week hampered their work. |
| 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. |
| 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 as of Thursday, 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 as of Thursday, 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. |
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| 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. |
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