Widespread Devastion Caused By Typhoon Morakot (20 Pics)

The Devastion Caused By Typhoon Morakot

Typhoon Morakot – meaning emerald in Thai – has battered the Philippines, Taiwan and south-eastern China over the last 48 hours killing at least 34 people and causing more than a million people to flee their homes.

Taiwanese television networks reported that up to 200 homes in the village of Shiaolin in Kaohsiung county were buried after typhoon Morakot dumped 2.5m (8ft) of rain on the island in the space of 24 hours.

Taiwan’s Disaster Relief Center said Morakot had killed 12 people. An estimated 400 Taiwanese are unaccounted for according to a police official after a mudslide spawned by Typhoon Morakot struck their isolated mountain village.

The typhoon had previously struck the Philippines, leaving at least 22 dead. The rainfall in China has forced the evacuation of nearly 1 million people along the east coast.

Initial estimates of damage caused by the storm were put at nearly £200m in China, while Taiwan said its agricultural losses exceeded £20m.

While Typhoon Morakot has now been downgraded to a tropical storm, the estimated number of people unaccounted for in mudslides is expected to rise.