The News said that cabinet officials are pressuring Defence Minister Chen Chao-min to resign over the military's delayed response to the disaster.

There are have been calls for President Ma Ying-jeou to assume responsibility or even resign.

Ma has apologised for the government's slow response to evacuate trapped mountain villagers but blamed bad weather for the delay in the military's rescue efforts.

A telephone poll of 1,176 adults by the Apple Daily showed that 53 percent of respondents thought Ma was responsible for the slow response, compared to 36 percent who did not hold Ma responsible.