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| Taiwan mudslide survivors found | Taiwan mudslide survivors found |
| (4 days later) | |
| About 700 people missing in southern Taiwan after Typhoon Morakot have been found alive, army officials say. | About 700 people missing in southern Taiwan after Typhoon Morakot have been found alive, army officials say. |
| People from several villages are said to have made it to higher ground before mud and rock engulfed their homes. | People from several villages are said to have made it to higher ground before mud and rock engulfed their homes. |
| Among the survivors found by rescue teams are 200 from Hsiaolin village, reports the Taiwan Central News Agency. | Among the survivors found by rescue teams are 200 from Hsiaolin village, reports the Taiwan Central News Agency. |
| However, despite frantic rescue efforts in Hsiaolin and elsewhere since the weekend, hundreds of people are still missing, feared buried under the mud. | However, despite frantic rescue efforts in Hsiaolin and elsewhere since the weekend, hundreds of people are still missing, feared buried under the mud. |
| See graphic showing level of rainfall Morakot brought to Taiwan | See graphic showing level of rainfall Morakot brought to Taiwan |
| President Ma Ying-jeou said hundreds of people were likely to have died. | President Ma Ying-jeou said hundreds of people were likely to have died. |
| He was visiting the rescue operation centre in Qishan in rural southern Taiwan. | He was visiting the rescue operation centre in Qishan in rural southern Taiwan. |
| Military helicopters have been ferrying villagers out of communities cut off by the storms and floods after roads and bridges were washed away. | Military helicopters have been ferrying villagers out of communities cut off by the storms and floods after roads and bridges were washed away. |
| "We have found around 700 people alive in three villages last night and 26 more this morning. We are deploying 25 helicopters to evacuate them," said Maj Gen Richard Hu, a senior official in the rescue effort. | "We have found around 700 people alive in three villages last night and 26 more this morning. We are deploying 25 helicopters to evacuate them," said Maj Gen Richard Hu, a senior official in the rescue effort. |
| The typhoon struck Taiwan at the weekend, causing the worst flooding in 50 years. The official death toll stands at 63. | The typhoon struck Taiwan at the weekend, causing the worst flooding in 50 years. The official death toll stands at 63. |
| 'Save my village' | 'Save my village' |
| The BBC's Cindy Sui in Qishan says the authorities fear that hundreds more people could still be trapped. | The BBC's Cindy Sui in Qishan says the authorities fear that hundreds more people could still be trapped. |
| In pictures: Taiwan rescue 'Washed away by the typhoon' Eyewitness: Pacific storms | In pictures: Taiwan rescue 'Washed away by the typhoon' Eyewitness: Pacific storms |
| In Hsiaolin alone, rescue workers said about 100 were unaccounted for as of Tuesday and thought possibly to have been buried alive. | In Hsiaolin alone, rescue workers said about 100 were unaccounted for as of Tuesday and thought possibly to have been buried alive. |
| Our correspondent says family members from surrounding areas have been converging on Hsiaolin, demanding that helicopters be sent to their villages too. | Our correspondent says family members from surrounding areas have been converging on Hsiaolin, demanding that helicopters be sent to their villages too. |
| Some are carrying signs that read, "Save my village". | Some are carrying signs that read, "Save my village". |
| The search for survivors has been a slow process as the only way in and out of the villages is by helicopter, our correspondent adds. | The search for survivors has been a slow process as the only way in and out of the villages is by helicopter, our correspondent adds. |
| The BBC's Alastair Leithead, also at the Qishan rescue base, says a high school playing field has become a landing pad for helicopters, and ambulances are lining the running track to ferry the injured to hospital. | The BBC's Alastair Leithead, also at the Qishan rescue base, says a high school playing field has become a landing pad for helicopters, and ambulances are lining the running track to ferry the injured to hospital. |
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| Alastair Leithead: "It's been another tough day for the rescuers" | Alastair Leithead: "It's been another tough day for the rescuers" |
| Morakot lashed Taiwan with at least two metres (80in) of rain over the weekend. | Morakot lashed Taiwan with at least two metres (80in) of rain over the weekend. |
| It is typhoon season in the North West Pacific, which brings storms like Morakot with exceptionally high rainfall and strong winds, said Liam Dutton from the BBC Weather Centre. | It is typhoon season in the North West Pacific, which brings storms like Morakot with exceptionally high rainfall and strong winds, said Liam Dutton from the BBC Weather Centre. |
| But, to put it in context, he said Morokot brought around 40 times as much rain to Taiwan as would fall on a typical wet weekend in the United Kingdom. | But, to put it in context, he said Morokot brought around 40 times as much rain to Taiwan as would fall on a typical wet weekend in the United Kingdom. |
| Typhoon Morakot has caused at least $225m (£135m) in agricultural damage, while nearly 30,000 houses are still without power and 750,000 homes are without water, according to the latest estimates from officials. | Typhoon Morakot has caused at least $225m (£135m) in agricultural damage, while nearly 30,000 houses are still without power and 750,000 homes are without water, according to the latest estimates from officials. |
| 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. |
| In the town of Pengxi in China's eastern province of Zhejiang, a landslide toppled seven older houses, reportedly killing two people. | In the town of Pengxi in China's eastern province of Zhejiang, a landslide toppled seven older houses, reportedly killing two people. |
| Meanwhile in Japan, another seasonal storm, Typhoon Etau, caused floods and landslides that have killed at least 15 people since the weekend and left a dozen missing. | Meanwhile in Japan, another seasonal storm, Typhoon Etau, caused floods and landslides that have killed at least 15 people since the weekend and left a dozen missing. |
| About 1,000 people spent Tuesday night in shelters and 4,600 households were without water, officials said. | About 1,000 people spent Tuesday night in shelters and 4,600 households were without water, officials said. |
| 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 Landcruiser | 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 Landcruiser |
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