The Taiwan Government’s news agency is reporting that hundreds of people may be missing after mudslides triggered by Typhoon Morakot:

“An estimated 500 to 600 people remain unaccounted for Monday after mudslides triggered by Typhoon Morakot hit an isolated mountain village in southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung County, according to rescued villagers.”

This story has been expanded by Taiwan News:

“An estimated 500 to 600 people remain unaccounted for Monay after mudslides triggered by Typhoon Morakot hit an isolated mountain village in southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung County, according to rescued villagers. “Only 44 residents of Siaolin managed to avoid the mudslides, and the remaining 500 to 600 residents are unaccounted for, ” said a family member of residents believed to be trapped in the village and possible buried alive. The weeping family member urged the government to not waste even a second in launching an operation to rescue the trapped villagers.”

I will post again when further details are available. Hopefully the villagers found a safe place to shelter.