700 trapped, possibly dead, in Taiwan

More than 700 people are trapped, possibly dead, in two southern Taiwan villages ravaged by mudslides after typhoon Morakot swamped the island, defence officials said.

Hu Jui-chou, an army major-general involved in rescue operations, said those trapped included people buried by a massive landslide in Hsiao Lin, a village of 1,000 in Kaohsiung county. Many were also trapped in a second village, Namahsia.

"Trapped means they could be dead or alive," Hu said by telephone. "It very likely covers people buried in the Hsiao Lin mudslide."