Taiwan's religious groups mourned victims and prayed for survivors of Typhoon Morakot Sunday afternoon in Kaohsiung County, the area worst hit by the recent disaster.

Nearly 10,000 people attended the mourning by Buddhists, Taoists, Catholics and Christians. Participants presented flowers and paid silent tribute to the dead.

Organizers of the ceremony said religious groups in Taiwan have a common wish to help disaster-stricken compatriots walk away from grief and start afresh.

Morakot, the worst typhoon to hit Taiwan in 50 years, has claimed at least 461 lives and left 192 missing and 46 injured, say Taiwan's disaster response authorities.

As of August 28, the typhoon left 475 dead and more than 70 missing or losing contact in the worst-hit Kaohsiung County.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2009)