The Chinese mainland will provide any necessary relief materials needed by Taiwan people affected by Typhoon Morakot, which struck the island last weekend, Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee pledged on Saturday.

"We are highly concerned about the disaster rescue and relief work on the island, and we would like to do anything we can," said an official with the office.

The office had requested factories to manufacture portable shelters day and night, and the first batch would arrive in Taiwan Monday at the soonest, said the official, but he did not say how many shelters it would comprise.

The confirmed death toll from Typhoon Morakot on the island was 121 people as of 8:00 AM on Saturday, but Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou said Friday it could reach 500 with about 380 more victims in Kaohsiung's Hsiaolin village.

It was the worst typhoon to hit Taiwan in nearly half a century. At least 53 people are missing and 45 injured, after Morakot devastated central and southern parts of the island.

On Friday the mainland office said it was collecting supplies and donations, as well as preparing to send rescue and health care teams to the island.

Mainland Red Cross organizations, banks, Buddhist associations and large companies had donated millions of yuan to help with the relief work, said the Taiwan Work Office official.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2009)