- Title: TAIWAN: Hundreds in Taiwan pay tribute to typhoon victims
- Date: 15th August 2009
- Summary: CHIASHIEN TOWNSHIP, KAOHSIUNG COUNTY, TAIWAN (AUGUST 15, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DISCONNECTED BRIDGE WATER RUSHING VEHICLE AT DISCONNECTED HIGHWAY VARIOUS OF OF DISCONNECTED AND DAMAGED HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGE VEHICLE TURNING AROUND ON DISCONNECTED ROAD BROKEN PIPES PEOPLE GATHERING AT TEMPORARY SHRINE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PAYING RESPECT TO DECEASED VARIOUS OF BUDDHIST FUNERAL WOMAN PRAYING AND CRYING AMONG GROUP MONKS FILING UP IN FRONT OF BUDDHA BUDDHA STATUE VARIOUS OF GROUP OF PEOPLE IN PRAYER (SOUNDBITE) (Taiwanese) 67-YEAR-OLD BANG YIN-CHIAO SAYING: "I came from Kaohsiung, and I didn't go back to the village, so I didn't know what the situation was until I watched the news. Once I heard the news, I hurried back to pray. All the phones were disconnected, we were very nervous and we could only rely on the news channels. I was in Kaohsiung for a few months, and when I came back, everything was gone." WOMAN KNEELING IN FRONT OF TABLE OF OFFERINGS WOMAN FOLDING PAPER MONEY VARIOUS OF PICTURES OF DECEASED CROWDS OF PEOPLE MOURNING WOMEN CRYING PEOPLE STANDING AROUND CHIAHSIEN GOVERNMENT OFFICE CROWDS AT GOVERNMENT OFFICE LIST OF SURVIVORS MAN WITH CAP LOOKING AT LIST OF SURVIVORS
- Embargoed: 30th August 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVA6SS8HY4WEVK5T994SWS30JWD2
- Story Text: Hundreds gather in southern Taiwan to mourn victims of Typhoon Morakot and to search survivor lists in hopes of locating loved ones.
Hundreds of family members gathered on Saturday (August 15) at the Chiahsien government office in Taiwan's south to pay tribute to the deceased and hoping to find missing family members.
Typhoon Morakot lashed Taiwan over last weekend (August 7-8), bringing torrential rains which triggered the worst floods in decades, according to the latest government statement.
More than 35,000 people have been rescued from disaster areas in the country's south, however, hundreds remain stranded and many are still missing.
Anxious family members of people living in areas battered by heavy rains and mudslides gathered in Chiahsien's government office.
Some kneeled to pray and burn joss sticks for the deceased while others waited for news of their family members.
Many haven't heard from close ones since the typhoon struck, like 67-year-old Bang Yin-chiao.
"I came from Kaohsiung, and I didn't go back to the village, so I didn't know what the situation was until I watched the news. Once I heard the news, I hurried back to pray. All the phones were disconnected, we were very nervous and we could only rely on the news channels. I was in Kaohsiung for a few months, and when I came back, everything was gone," she said.
Survivors and Taiwan's opposition party have accused Ma of reacting too slowly to the consequences of the typhoon, the island's worst since 1959 with an official death toll of 121.
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou estimated on Friday (August 14) the possible death toll could reach more than 500, counting mostly the victims who are feared buried in a massive landslide in a mountain village.
Morakot, which passed over Taiwan last weekend (August 7-8), has caused about 11.8 billion Taiwan dollars (360 million U.S. dollars) in agricultural losses and damaged more than 250 road segments, requiring years of repair. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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