On Wednesday, member companies of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) donated more than 100 million yuan (US$14.6 million) and HK$5 million (US$645,000) for the Chinese Taiwan island's typhoon relief. The Red Cross Society of the mainland also offered 15 million yuan (US$2.2 million) to the island's Red Cross organization. [Xinhua]

A helicopter prepares to take off to rescue trapped residents in Kaohsiung county of south China's Taiwan Province, on August 11, 2009. Helicopters rescued many residents trapped by flood and mudslide caused by Typhoon Morakot on Tuesday morning as the weather became clear. The death toll in Taiwan after typhoon Morakot swept across the island surged to 103 as of 9 PM on Wednesday after rescuers found 32 bodies in southern Kaohsiung County, local media reported.  [Xinhua]