Typhoon Toraji Death Toll Up to 99 in Taiwan
 
The death toll from Typhoon Toraji's rampage through Taiwan has risen by six to 99 with a further 116 people still missing, rescue officials said Monday.

Of the victims, 35 were from the central Nantou county and 31 were from the eastern Hualien county.

The fire administration, which coordinates major rescue operations in Taiwan, continued to call in hundreds of rescuers in the typhoon-hit areas despite fading hope of finding more survivors in mudslides and rockfalls after the typhoon struck eight days ago.

Toraji, packing winds of 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour, struck the island and unleashed torrential rains which triggered massive mudslides described by villagers as the worst in 50 years.

It was the latest in a series of storms to batter Taiwan this typhoon season.

(Agencies 08/07/2001)