"Taiwan Mudslide May Have Buried 600 Villagers"

"TAIPEI/TOKYO -- A mudslide triggered by torrential rains from a typhoon may have buried up to 600 villagers in mountainous southern Taiwan, disaster officials said on Monday.

More than 50 people have died in tropical storms striking the Phillipines, Taiwan, China and Japan.

The death toll so far in Taiwan stood at 15, with 55 missing and 32 hurt, since Typhoon Morakot struck the island on Friday and remained in the area through the weekend before battering China's populous east coast.

Rescue squads aboard helicopters had saved only 45 people from Hsiao Lin, a village of 1,000 in southern Taiwan. Rains washed out roads and bridges in Kaohsiung County, severing all land vehicle traffic."

Ralph Jennings and Yoko Kubota report for Reuters August 11, 2009.