BEIJING, August 25 (RIA Novosti) - Authorities in Taiwan confirmed on Tuesday that 461 people are confirmed to have died in floods and landslides caused by Typhoon Morakot, China's Sina news agency reported.
The figure has risen by almost 100 in a few hours, as 376 deaths were reported earlier on Tuesday. The death toll is expected to rise further, with 192 people still missing, many of them believed to be buried under mudslides.
Taiwan's worst storm in half a century, Morakot hit Taiwan on August 8, causing heavy flooding, strong winds and landslides. At least 7,000 people have been left homeless and material damage is estimated at $365 million.
Taiwanese authorities were criticized for their "slow and chaotic" response to the disaster. Defense Minister Chen Chao-min and Cabinet Secretary General Hsueh Hsiang-chuan have offered their resignations, but are not expected to leave their posts before September at earliest.
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