Taipei, Aug 27 (DPA) Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou said Thursday that Taipei has approved a visit of the Dalai Lama to Taiwan to comfort the survivors of Typhoon Morakot, government officials confirmed.

Ma made the statement while touring south Taiwan, which was hit Aug 8 by the storm that left at least 461 people dead and 192 missing.

The Taiwan government held a news conference to formally announce its approval of the visit of the Tibetan spiritual leader.

The officials from three southern Taiwan counties and cities invited the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan from Aug 31 to Sep 3 to hold prayer meetings for the typhoon victims and bless the survivors.

'The Dalai Lama is very happy to visit Taiwan,' Dawa Tsering, the Dalai Lama's representative in Taipei, told DPA Wednesday.