SHIAO LIN, Taiwan (AP):

Family members holding photos of the dead picked their way through the ruins of a landslide-flattened village yesterday where hundreds were killed in Taiwan's worst typhoon in a half-century.

A few dozen people came to Shiao Lin, which lost more than half its population, to hold a simple ceremony that many believe has the power to bring back the souls of the dead.

"Can you hear me?" one woman called to her grandchild in footage from AP Television News. "I'm calling your name. Please come back."

Some 380 people were killed in Shiao Lin after Typhoon Morakot pummelled the island last weekend, causing tons of earth to crash down from the surrounding mountains.

More than 500 dead

More than 500 people died in southern and central Taiwan, President Ma Ying-jeou said Friday.

Yesterday, the president offered his first apology in response to mounting criticism that the government was too slow to respond to the disaster.

"We could have responded faster and better, but we didn't. We are sorry about that," Ma told reporters.

In Shiao Lin, only two buildings in the entire village were left standing, a small brick home and a tiny temple.

Survivors walked back and forth across the bare ground, stopping to light incense sticks and burn paper money for the dead. A monk rang a small bell, which people believe will help the souls of the dead find their way home.

"My parents, my brothers, my uncles, altogether 40 members of my family were killed," said Liu Jin-fung, a man who appeared to be in his 40s. "The flood came so quickly, and there's nothing left."

ETTV news station showed one unidentified man calling out for his parents.

"Your useless son is here. Come back! Come back!" he man shouted, falling on his knees.

Large boulders were scattered where houses once stood, and streams of mud continued to flow down the mountainsides. Heli-copters flew overhead on their way to rescue survivors from nearby areas.

A few miles away, a similar memorial service was held. Local TV showed survivors crying, holding each other tightly, and lighting sticks of incense to honour family and friends who died.

7,000 homes destroyed

Morakot dumped more than 80 inches (2 metres) of rain on the island and stranded thousands in villages in the mountainous south. A total of 21,199 villagers were ferried to safety and rescuers were working to save another 4,224 people.

The storm destroyed the homes of 7,000 people and caused agricultural and property damage in excess of 50 billion New Taiwan dollars ($1.5 billion), according to government estimates.

Millions of dollars have been raised for the relief efforts, including NT$505 million ($15.34 million) from a televised Taiwanese fund-raiser attended by Jet Li and other stars on Friday.

Taiwan has also accepted foreign aids from several countries, including Singapore and Israel. The United States has given Taiwan $250,000 and offered to send helicopters for relief efforts. Pope Benedict XVI has also donated $50,000 and offered the storm victims a prayer, said Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.