Taiwan town declines homes, fearing toxics

A Taiwan town where 700 people were displaced after the island's worst typhoon in 50 years yesterday declined mobile homes from the mainland, fearing they might contain toxic chemicals.

The refusal, triggered by attacks against the mainland donation by some pro-independence opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) politicians, indicated that politicization has even outshined humanitarian aid badly needed by the island.

The island's death toll from Typhoon Morakot climbed to 136 as of 1:30 pm yesterday, not including the 523 villagers buried alive by mudslides, local disaster response authorities said.