Military helicopters have been airlifting some of the survivors to safety, and dropping provisions for others, but continuing rain has hampered their efforts. Photo by BGNES
Taiwan has appealed for international technical assistance to help rescue more than 2 000 people stranded after Typhoon Morakot caused major mudslides.
The Taiwanese authorities say they need giant cargo aircraft able to drop large earth diggers and other machinery into remote mountain areas to re-open roads, the BBC reported.
Specialists say only Russia and the US are believed to have such aircraft.
Relatives of those stranded and of the hundreds feared dead have urged the government to speed up rescue efforts.
Many have been waiting for days at the rescue operation centre in Qishan for news of family members missing since the typhoon struck over the weekend.
Hundreds of people feared buried by mudslides in the south of the country have been found alive.
However, Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou, who visited Qishan on Wednesday, said hundreds more were likely to have died. The number of confirmed dead stands at 108.
The Taiwanese government is sending more than 4 000 extra soldiers to speed up rescue efforts.
About 1 000 pre-fabricated houses for families left homeless are also needed, as well as supplies of disinfectant to help prevent diseases spreading.
Military helicopters have been airlifting some of the survivors to safety, and dropping provisions for others, but continuing rain has hampered their efforts.
The typhoon struck Taiwan at the weekend, causing the worst flooding in 50 years.
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