Storm kills 14 in Taiwan, heads to South China

9.55am

TAIPEI - A typhoon lashed heavy rain over Taiwan, triggering widespread flooding and killing at least 14 people before weakening and heading towards southeast China, officials said on Saturday.

A land warning for Taiwan was lifted as Typhoon Mindulle weakened into a tropical storm but persistent rain caused landslides and mudslides in the mountainous regions in the centre and south of the island, officials said.

The Central Weather Bureau warned of more torrential rain in the next few days.

Mindulle hit the Philippines this week, killing 23 people and forcing thousands from their homes. It was the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.

On Taiwan, falling rocks hit a truck on a mountain road in the southern county of Chiayi, killing two passengers and injuring the driver, the disaster response centre said.

Others drowned, including a woman and her grandchild trapped in their flooded home in eastern Taiwan.

"I want to cry but I have no tears. I have not seen such serious flooding," a man living in the mountainous county of Nantao told cable news network ETTV in front of his home which was covered by a thick layer of yellow mud.

"The rain came fast and heavy, sweeping away cars and motorcycles and flooding streets. It's really bad," said another villager.

Eight people were missing -- most of them swept away by swollen rivers.

Crop damage was estimated at T$532 million (US$15.8 million or $24.96 million) , the Council of Agriculture said.

Heavy downpours flooded streets in many parts of the island, submerging cars and forcing hundreds to evacuate their homes. Power was cut to more than 80,000 households.

The government has mobilised 77,000 soldiers to join the rescue and help mop up in worst-hit areas.

Typhoon Toraji killed 200 people in Taiwan in 2001. A few months later, Typhoon Nari caused Taipei's worst flooding on record and killed 100.

- REUTERS