Taiwan/China/Japan

Taiwan, China and Japan under water

Article published on the 2009-08-11 Latest update 2009-08-11 09:18 TU

Rescuers carry a man in Chishan, Kaohsiung county, after he was evacuated from a village in southern Taiwan on 11 August, 2009. The village was hit by a landslide, which was caused by typhoon Morakot
(Photo: Reuters/Pichi Chuang)

At least 41 people have died in Taiwan following severe flooding caused by typhoon Morakot, according to the National Fire Agency.

Hundreds more are missing, including at least 100 people in a remote village in Kaohsiung in the south of the island.

A record three metres of rain hit the country over the weekend - the worst flooding in fifty years.

The typhoon has caused at least five billion Taiwan dollars (110 billion euros) in agricultural damage. Around 61,000 houses were without power and 850,000 homes were without water, according to authorities.

Meanwhile, two people were killed in eastern China after seven apartment blocks in one town collapsed following a landslide. The buildings toppled at about 10 pm on Monday night in Pengxi, near Wenzhou City, in Zhejiang province.

The Civil Affairs Ministry said six other people have died and more than 6,000 homes have been damaged during the devastation caused by typhoon Morakot.

In Japan, over 100 people were injured in Tokyo following an earthquake that measured 6.5 on the Richter scale.

Most of the injured were struck by falling objects, and three were said to be in a serious condition.

According to the US Geological Survey, it hit the Pacific Ocean about 170 kilometres southwest of Tokyo at a depth of 27 kilometres.

A landslide triggered by the earthquake damaged roads in Shizuoka and the Hamaoka nuclear plant shut down its two reactors.

There was some relief for emergency services with the news that typhoon Etau – which was initially expected to reach areas near Tokyo on Tuesday – is now expected to move east, away from Japan’s coast.

Thirteen people were killed and 18 are still missing after Etau caused floods and landslides in the country over the weekend.