Typhoon Morakot had killed at least 67 people and left 61 missing in Taiwan as of Wednesday noon, the island's authorities said.
Another 45 people were injured after the worst typhoon to hit the island in nearly five decades wrecked havoc across the central and southern regions.
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A helicopter prepares to take off to rescue trapped residents in Kaohsiung county of south China's Taiwan Province, Aug. 11, 2009. Helicopters rescued many residents trapped by flood and mudslide caused by Typhoon Morakot on Tuesday morning as the weather became clear. At least 62 people were killed and 57 others are missing in Taiwan as of 8 p.m. Tuesday local time after Morakot, the worst typhoon to hit the region in nearly five decades, swept across the island. [Xinhua] |
The toll included three rescuers on board a helicopter that crashed Tuesday during a disaster-relief mission in southern Pingdong County. Their bodies were found on Wednesday morning.
Strong winds also cut electricity supply to more than 1.59 million households, but power has been restored to nearly 1.56 million of them by Wednesday, according to local power companies.
Typhoon Morakot has caused more than 8.8 billion New Taiwan Dollars (about 267 million U.S. dollars) in agricultural damage, according to local agricultural authorities.
Hundreds of roads and bridges on the island have been destroyed by floods, and disaster-relief centers have dispatched helicopters to transport villagers and air-drop goods in those regions.
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Rescuers carry residents to a medical station in Kaohsiung county of south China's Taiwan Province, Aug. 11, 2009. Helicopters rescued many residents trapped by flood and mudslide caused by Typhoon Morakot on Tuesday morning as the weather became clear. At least 62 people were killed and 57 others are missing in Taiwan as of 8 p.m. Tuesday local time after Morakot, the worst typhoon hit the region in nearly five decades, swept across the island. [Xinhua] |
On Wednesday, there were still 27 bridges and 69 main roads blocked or impassable.
In parts of central-south Taiwan where water has started to retreat, people are returning to repair homes and infrastructure, local media reported.
People from a wide range of social sectors including government, enterprises, entertainment and TV stations have donated cash and goods worth millions of New Taiwan Dollars to support the disaster-relief work.
On Wednesday, member companies of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) donated more than 100 million yuan (14.6 million U.S. dollars) and 5 million HK dollars (645,000 U.S. dollars) for the island's typhoon relief.
The Red Cross Society of China also offered 15 million yuan (2.2 million U.S. dollars) to the island's Red Cross organization.
(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2009)
