Landslide buries 15 in Taiwan after typhoon

TAIPEI - At least 15 people were buried when a landslide triggered by a fierce typhoon struck a mountain village in Taiwan, a government official said on Thursday.

The village of Wu Feng in the northern county of Hsinchu was buried by the landslide on Wednesday, said Hsinchu county chief Cheng Yung-chin, as Typhoon Aere moved to China after causing mudslides and flash floods on the island.

"It happened very quickly yesterday. In about 10 seconds mudslides buried the village. We know 15 people were buried, including eight locals and three policemen. We have sent in rescuers," said Cheng.

"Only about 20 people actually lived there, though we have registered residents of more than 100," Cheng said.

On Wednesday, disaster relief officials had said the fate of the 100 registered residents was unknown.

The massive storm that killed 12 people in Taiwan and Japan this week hit the same area of China, eastern Fujian province, where Typhoon Rananim killed 164 people this month.

"Early reports say one person has died and four are missing following three shipping accidents caused by high seas," the China Daily newspaper said.

Xinhua news agency said one villager was also missing in eastern Zhejiang province, north of Fujian.

Authorities in Zhejiang had evacuated nearly 250,000 people and called vessels back to port, it said.

Typhoons gather their strength from warm sea waters and tend to dissipate after making landfall.

In 2001, one of Taiwan's deadliest years for storms, Typhoon Toraji, killed 200 people. A few months later, Typhoon Nari caused Taipei's worst flooding on record and killed 100 people.

- REUTERS