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Taiwan begins 3-day mourning after typhoon

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-22 14:52

TAIPEI: Taiwan began a three-day mourning period to remember the victims of Typhoon Morakot on Saturday, two weeks after the island's worst weather disaster in 50 years devastated its mountainous south.

Soldiers search for bodies on a street covered with mud, following Typhoon Morakot in Liugui, Pingtung County, southern Taiwan August 21, 2009. [Agencies]

The storm took at least 500 lives and caused more than $2 billion in property damage. It triggered landslides and widespread flooding that trapped thousands of people in remote villages for days.

Early Saturday flags around Taiwan were lowered to half staff, and officials attended religious events paying homage to the storm victims.

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Since the full dimensions of the Morakot disaster became clear about 12 days ago, Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou has struggled to assuage anger over the government's slow response.

His approval rating has now dropped to below 20 percent - a 30 percent decline in only three months - amid an almost daily battering in local media.

Ma has been visiting hard-hit areas in the south over the past two days, bowing before the families of the dead and promising that a planned $3 billion reconstruction program will be carried out with exemplary efficiency.