Taiwan's vice foreign minister resigned Aug. 18 to take responsibility for his agency's initial rejection of aid from other governments following Typhoon Morakot, which claimed about 500 lives and caused an estimated $1.5 billion in damage.

Andrew Hsia's resignation, which needs to be approved by the Cabinet, came amid rising criticism over the government's slow response to the Aug. 8-9 storm. The move was linked to the ministry's delay in requesting foreign aid after the storm hit. The ministry initially instructed Taiwanese missions abroad to reject offers of aid but reversed the decision Aug. 13.

Meanwhile, a U.S. relief team backed by heavy-lift helicopters arrived in Taiwan on Aug. 17 to help local authorities get aid to the hundreds of people thought to be stranded in mountain villages.

Relying mainly on 70 Taiwanese choppers, local rescuers have ferried more than 35,000 villagers to safety, many stranded in and around 44 hard-hit mountain communities, cut off after roads and bridges were washed away by Morakot's fury. Officials said late Aug. 16 that at least 1,000 people were still stranded.