A powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked southern Taiwan today, causing widespread damage and disrupting communications around the island.

PRESSURE is mounting on Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou to speed up operations to rescue hundreds of people buried or stranded on remote mountain villages in the aftermath of typhoon Morakot.

RESCUERS in Taiwan have found nearly 1,000 people alive in the area around three remote villages devastated by Typhoon Morakot, which pummelled the island over the weekend, the country’s military said.

Nearly 1,000 people have been found alive around three remote Taiwan villages devastated by typhoon Morakot.

A TYPHOON pummelled China’s eastern coast yesterday, toppling houses, flooding villages and forcing nearly a million people to flee to safety.

A typhoon slammed into China’s eastern coast today, forcing the evacuation of nearly a million people.

Taiwan today pledged to forge ahead with its campaign for United Nations membership, as China celebrated an expected victory after a Taiwanese application to enter the world body was rejected for the 15th straight year.

Taiwan’s planned referendum on United Nations membership may damage its crucial ties to the United States, but President Chen Shui-bian is likely to defy American pressure and see the proposal through, analysts say.

Surgeons reattached a Taiwanese zookeeper’s forearm today after a 200-kilo Nile crocodile bit it off.

A strong earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Taiwan today, rocking buildings in the capital Taipei.

Telephone and internet services were disrupted across Asia today, hours after a powerful earthquake struck the southern part of Taiwan, killing two and triggering a regional tsunami alert.

About a million Taiwanese marched through the capital Taipei today, some carrying signs reading “Shame on China”, to express their anger over a new Chinese law that authorises an attack on the island if it moves toward formal independence.

Taiwan and China reached agreement today on temporarily lifting the island’s five-decade ban on direct flights between the two rivals during next month’s Lunar New Year holiday.

Taiwan announced 12 new SARS deaths today, and a top health official warned that the island has not yet seen the worst of its outbreak.

THE SARS emergency has worsened in Taiwan, which had its biggest one-day jump in cases yesterday, while China threatened possible execution for people who cause death or injury by deliberately spreading the disease.

TAIWANESE rescuers in helicopters and dinghies saved 133 Chinese fishermen from a burning boat yesterday as a tropical storm whipped up high seas and gales, a coast guard official said.

Taiwanese rescue helicopters have pulled about 80 Chinese fishermen from a boat that was on fire near the southern port city of Kaohsiung.

A China Airlines passenger jet dumped its fuel after takeoff and returned to Taiwan for an emergency landing today when one of its engines vibrated strongly.