An evacuated child sits in a van waiting to be taken to a shelter after being airlifted to safety in Chishan, in Kaohsiung county yesterday. AFP

TAIPEI: Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou was confronted by dozens of survivors during a visit to typhoon-stricken southern Taiwan yesterday as the island's death toll continued to mount.

Television footage showed dozens of people surrounding Ma in Tainan county, where at least 23 people were killed. Floods triggered by typhoon Morakot submerged houses and roads in the community.

"What is the government doing? It's too late, they cannot be saved," said an angry man.

Ma was criticised after his bodyguards attempted to prevent two survivors from approaching him during an inspection in Taitung county earlier this week.

"We all support you. How come it is so difficult to see you?" asked a weeping man before Ma replied, "Slow down. You see (me) now."

The "National Security Bureau", which is in charge of Ma's safety, later apologised to the public in a statement about the incident for "overly exercising its duties".

Ma also took time to honor a village administrator who died during typhoon Morakot, in an heroic effort to save his village in Yunlin country.

Ma visited the home of Miu Jung-tang, head of the Chinghan Village Office in Yunlin county's Kouhu township. He offered condolences to the dead administrator's family.

Miu, 47, is survived by his wife, their four children and his 80-year-old father who has been confined to a sick bed for years.

Miu braved strong winds and heavy rains on the night of August 9 to climb onto a drainage channel near the coastal area of Chinghan village to close the water gate and thus prevent the village from being inundated by waves kicked up by the typhoon.

However, immediately after closing the water gate, he slipped and fell into the channel where he drowned.

Praising Miu's efforts as heroic, Ma said Miu showed great courage in the face of danger and was a role model.

Ma said he will see to it that Miu's family receives good condolence compensation from the government.

The Yunlin county government earlier had presented a special certificate of commendation for bravery to Miu's family and renamed the water gate as the Jung Tang Water Gate in commemoration of the late administrator.

Ma, on an inspection tour of Tainan county, one of the four worst hit areas of Taiwan, denied that Taiwan has rejected offers of overseas assistance in the wake of typhoon Morakot. He elaborated that Taiwan has already accepted relief aid from several countries and regions.

Ma made the remarks in response to questions from reporters while in Madou township, where the pomelo harvest was almost completely wiped out by Morakot.

Ma noted that the United States, Japan, Singapore and the mainland have offered money and other aid to Taiwan and the offers have been accepted.

Later yesterday, "Vice Premier" Chiu Cheng-hsiung said Ma gave him instructions by phone in the morning to have the relevant agencies immediately compile a list of the relief items needed from overseas.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 08/14/2009 page2)