Taiwan mudslide may have buried 600 villagers

A mudslide triggered by torrential rains from a typhoon may have buried up to 600 villagers in mountainous southern Taiwan, officials said. 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 41, with 62 missing, since Typhoon Morakot struck the island on Friday and remained in the area through the weekend before battering China's populous east coast. According to the local meteorological department, 118 inches of rain has been recorded so far. 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.