In the hectic corridors of Qishan High School - the centre of rescue operations in the area worst affected by Typhoon Morakot - the sound of helicopters landing and taking off every few minutes roars through the air.
""You have a very intense event hitting a very susceptible part of the world. It's that combination of nature and man," said MIT tropical meteorology professor Kerry Emanuel. "If one of those ingredients were missing, you wouldn't have a disaster.""