Taiwan boosts typhoon rescue efforts
- Source: Global Times
- [23:58 August 13 2009]
- Comments
By Chen Yang
A child waves from a van while waiting to be taken to a shelter after being airlifted to safety in Kaohsiung today. Taiwan’s military said that 4,000 more soldiers were added to the rescue effort, bringing the total to 38,000. Photo: AFP
In response to public outcry, Taiwanese authorities today strengthened operations to rescue hundreds of residents stranded or buried in southern mountainous villages struck by Typhoon Morakot.
A total of 1,610 people were rescued by helicopters yesterday, according to Taiwan’s military corps.
The official death toll in Taiwan stands at 116, with 59 listed as missing as of yesterday afternoon, but hundreds remain unaccounted for and are feared lost in the mudslides.
More than 300 residents are feared dead in Shiao Lin village, which was destroyed by mudslides, said Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing.
The danger of a dike breaking at a dammed lake after a heavy rainstorm Tuesday evening in Taoyuan township, Kaohsiung county, was averted today afternoon.
More than 2,000 residents have been trapped in Taoyuan for six days. The township highway collapsed Saturday, and water and electricity supplies have been cut off since, according to relatives of local villagers.
“Six days have passed and no helicopters came to rescue them. They are being ignored by the authorities,” said Wu Hairuo, whose family members are trapped in Meilan village in Taoyuan.
“The helicopters rescue injured residents, patients (with chronic medical problems) and pregnant women first, and the military will airdrop relief materials in isolated villages,” a relief worker told the Central News Agency. “Once the roads are connected, it will be easier to rescue them.”
Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou and other senior government officials have been touring areas affected by the typhoon.
According to the latest poll conducted by the TVBS cable TV channel, 47 percent of the Taiwanese public is unsatisfied with the rescue efforts Ma has ordered.
