Yang Chiu-Hsing, Magistrate, Kaohsiung County, said, "The death toll is a vague estimate. It's not the exact number. 650 people are registered in the village, and 43 of them have been rescued so far. But we don't know the situation of the remaining six hundred and seven. Some might be studying or working somewhere else. I hope they can contact us as soon as possible. This will help us know exactly how many people are still trapped."
Those rescued have been sent to rest stations. But relief is never far from sadness.
Rescued Villager, said, "My relatives were buried by mudslides. Even though the helicopters have arrived, my mother won't be coming back."
After days of searching, some people have been found. But rescue work has become extremely dangerous. Many roads and bridges were cut by landslides.
Helicopters were used for delivering relief materials for the first few days. Local officials are now planning to dispatch naval vessels to help carry bigger rescue machinery and more relief materials.
Mudslides have created a barrier lake in eastern Taiwan. Rising waters are threatening villages downstream.
More than 50 houses were washed away by the flood. Residents were evacuated immediately.
"Madam, please, pack and run. The water from the barrier lake may come."
"Ok, let me quickly pack."
Morakot is the worst typhoon to hit the island in half a century. The economic losses in agriculture are estimated to reach 70 billion New Taiwan Dollars.
Donations from all over the world have been pouring in to support Taiwan's disaster relief.
(CCTV August 15, 2009)
