The death toll from Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan could reach more than 500, Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou said Friday.
"More than 120 people have already reportedly been killed by Morakot, in addition to 380 more deaths in Kaohsiung's Hsiaolin village. The total death toll in Taiwan could top 500," Ma said Friday.
According to the island's disaster-relief authorities, Morakot, the strongest typhoon to hit the island in half a century, had killed at least 117 people by 10 a.m. Friday.
Another 59 people were still missing and 45 were injured, they said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2009)
