Copter crashes into mountain in typhoon-hit Taiwan

Taipei (Taiwan), Aug.11 (ANI): A helicopter carrying five crew members and a nurse has crashed into a mountain while on a mission to rescue villagers whose homes were destroyed by a powerful typhoon, reports the China Daily.

The helicopter was spotted lying in a valley after crashing Tuesday while flying to Sandimen, a mountainous region in southern Pingtung county.

Meanwhile, mudslides triggered by Typhoon Morakot have inundated several remote villages in southern Taiwan. Authorities say at least 41 people were confirmed dead and 60 were missing.

Officials said another 100 residents may have been buried alive in Shiao Lin village.

Television reports said Taiwan's military has rescued about 260 people whose village was consumed by a typhoon-spawned mudslide.

At least 400 people are still unaccounted for. The storm dumped as much as 80 inches (2 meters) of rain on the island before moving on to Chinese mainland. (ANI)