President Ma Ying-jeou stressed Wednesday that the government would not force the relocation of villages that were wiped out by Typhoon Morakot, and that any such plans will give priority to the interests of the residents. Ma reiterated the promise during a visit to a Military Academy barracks in Kaohsiung County, southern Taiwan, where over 1,200 homeless victims of Typhoon Morakot are being housed. The people in the emergency shelter were mostly residents of the Taoyuan township in Kaohsiung County, which was one of the areas hardest hit by the storm. Ma, leading a group of Cabinet officials, bowed to the victims in apology over his administration's slow response in the first few days after the typhoon. He praised Taoyuan township chief Hsieh Chuei-yiao for quickly evacuating the residents to safe places. Ma suggested that the homeless people remain at the barracks while they plan for the future. Meanwhile, Premier Liu Chao-shiuan made an inspection tour Wednesday of the Jenmei military barracks in Kaohsiung County's Dashu township, where over 300 displaced typhoon victims are housed. According to Ministry of National Defense statistics, a total of 3,309 individuals displaced by Typhoon Morakot were being sheltered at seven military barracks around Taiwan, as of Tuesday. The death toll from Typhoon Morakot reached 613 Wednesday, with 71 people reported missing. Some 400 to 500 people were buried by a massive landslide in one village. Kaohsiung and Chiayi were among the worst-hit areas. 