Hundreds 'buried alive' in Taiwan

來源：BBC, 14 August 2009

More than 390 people are believed to have been buried alive in the village worst affected by a massive mudslide caused by Typhoon Morakot.

A National Fire Agency disaster relief centre spokesman told the BBC's Cindy Sui of the fears for Hsiaolin Village.

This is the first time the government has released a firm estimate on the number of people they believe might have been killed.

Thousands of people are still stranded by the worst by mudslides and floods.

The typhoon struck Taiwan at the weekend, causing the worst flooding in 50 years, and leaving at least 116 people confirmed dead.

In pictures: Taiwan misery 'Washed away by the typhoon'

The floods have washed out roads, snapped bridges and sent low-rise buildings crashing into rivers, the disaster agency says.

Hundreds of survivors have been airlifted from Hsiaolin village, which was hit by a massive mudslide that covered all but two houses, cutting off road and telecommunication links.

Help on way?

The Taiwanese government said it had received offers of help from the international community, including the European Union and the United States.

See map of affected area

But it stressed the need for very specific technical assistance - namely large cargo helicopters that could carry at least 22 tons of earth movers or other equipment.

The Taiwanese authorities say they need giant cargo aircraft able to drop large earth diggers and other machinery into remote mountain areas to re-open roads.

Relatives 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 family members missing since the typhoon struck over the weekend.

TYPHOON MORAKOT Deluged Taiwan with at least two metres (80in) of rain over the weekend Caused the country's worst flooding in 50 years Some 108 people confirmed dead, hundreds unaccounted for Some 14,000 people airlifted out of affected areas Eyewitness: Pacific storms

Hundreds of people feared buried by mudslides in the south of the country have been found alive.

President Ma Ying-jeou has assured anxious relatives waiting for news that no effort would be spared to find their loved ones as anger rises at the government response.

Nearly 14,000 people have now been evacuated by air from the worst-affected areas. Military helicopters have been dropping provisions for others, but continuing rain has hampered their work.

The BBC's Alastair Leithead, at the Qishan rescue base, says thousands of extra Taiwanese troops are trying to push out into remote areas on foot as well as by helicopter.

Typhoon Morakot, which lashed Taiwan with at least 200cm (80in) of rain over the weekend, has caused at least $225m (£135m) in agricultural damage and left tens of thousands of homes without power and water.

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, 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.