Ma Ying-jeou accepts U.S. help for flood victims

But he denied press reports that Taipei had refused U.S. assistance. At least Taipei has accepted a relief donation of US$250,000 from the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).

Ma didn't announce his acceptance of the U.S. aid offer.

Paul Chiu, vice premier who now commands the disaster control center in Taipei, relayed Ma's decision to Premier Liu Chao-shiuan, who visited the control center yesterday morning.

Liu did not declare Taipei's about-face decision, but directed government agencies concerned to come up with a shopping list of hardware needed to expedite the slow rescue and evacuation operations.

As late as Wednesday night, Liu kept on saying Taipei did not need any foreign assistance to cope with the tough problems of evacuating to safety all people stranded in remote villages that still remain submerged in floodwaters.

Typhoon Morakot plodded across Taiwan over two days, leaving in its wake more than 100 people killed and nearly two thirds of central and southern Taiwan under waters over five meters deep in many places.

Downpours continued after the tropical rainstorm left Taiwan on Saturday, touching off landslides that cut off routes of transportation and trapping thousands of people.

Su Jun-pin, a government spokesman, quoted the premier as saying at a regular Cabinet meeting Taiwan welcomes assistance from abroad.

The about-face took place in the face of a public outcry that will be relayed to the world through international media like the CNN and BBC by a letter campaign bloggers are launching.

Dubbed "one letter by everyone," the campaign tries to tell the world Taiwan needs help from abroad to save the victims.

At the top of the list of equipment needed are large helicopters that can lift and carry crane shovels weighing over 32 tons. "A number of such helicopters are urgently needed," a Cabinet source said.

If requested, the United States may send them either from Okinawa or Guam.

Hundreds of tons of disinfectants are also needed, while the United States will be asked to supply 1,000 portable sterilizers and 500 automatic sterilizers.

The flooded areas have to be disinfected to prevent an outbreak of infectious diseases.

Also to be requested are 1,000 prefab housing units to accommodate evacuees, the source said.

On the other hand, Liao Liao-yi, minister of the interior who now directs an advance disaster control center in Pingtung, doubted, while welcoming foreign assistance, whether the aid can arrive in time at the places needed.

"Our operations need help in many fields," Liao said, "the government has to have an overall consideration as well as to weigh opinions of our experts and specialists."

Meanwhile, President Ma continued his flood inspection in southern Taiwan.

After visiting flood-ravaged wentan shaddock orchards at Matou near Tainan, Ma apologized to farmers for failure to prevent the worst flash floods in 50 years.

"I am sorry," Ma repeated many times while addressing Matou residents at a gathering at a local Taoist temple. People did not shout abuse against the president, but complained the Tsengwen Reservoir released waters while heavy rains continued, breaching dikes and flooding nearby villages.

Matou was farmed by indigenous Matau tribes while Taiwan was colonized by the Dutch in the 17th century. It is known for its wentan shaddocks, like grapefruits but a little bigger, which are almost ritually eaten to mark the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Oct. 3 this year.

The president promised to speak for the Matou shaddocks to promote their sale. However, because this year's shaddock crop is very small, the fruits are expected to enjoy a very brisk sale.

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