Taiwan Warns of Heavy Rains after Killer TyphoonTaiwan issued a warning on Friday for torrential rain, which is likely to complicate a search for more than 100 people still missing after one of the island's deadliest storms and which could cause further casualties.The weather bureau said a tropical depression would bring torrential rain to Taiwan and warned of rock and mudslides in mountainous regions. Rock and mudslides as well as flash floods were blamed for the toll of 86 dead and 132 missing in eastern and central Taiwan after Typhoon Toraji ripped through the island on Sunday and Monday. If the death toll rises to 200, it would be the highest in nearly four decades and the third most lethal storm on record. Although hopes of finding survivors grew dimmer as the search entered into the fifth day, officials have promised to continue until most of the missing are accounted for. As of Friday, agricultural losses amounted to T$6 billion (US$174 million). Typhoons and tropical storms frequently hit Taiwan, Hong Kong and elsewhere on the southern coast of China during the summer months. They draw their strength from the warm waters of the South China Sea but usually weaken after making landfall. |
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