Taiwan's president, Ma Ying-jeou, said Friday that the death toll from the powerful Typhoon Morakot is estimated to be about 500, with 120 confirmed. Hundreds are still trapped beneath the debris from landslides associated with the typhoon, which Ma called the most destructive in 50 years, and officials see little hope of finding anyone alive in the hardest-hit village, Shiao Lin. "While the rescue operation is still going on, we have started rehabilitation and reconstruction work, which is just as imminent but might be even more difficult and cumbersome," Ma said.
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