The 700 feared dead in Taiwan made it to safety before storm struck
Most of the villagers thought to be buried after Typhoon Morakot caused mudslides in Taiwan have been spotted on higher ground and are slowly being rescued by military helicopters. So far about 120 flights have moved at least 300 people out of the area, which is inaccessible by ground after the storm washed out roads and bridges. Bad weather continues to hamper rescue operations, and responders have been forced to prioritize who they pick up—many villagers who don’t need urgent medical care are being airdropped supplies but will have to wait to be flown out. At least 93 people were killed by the typhoon, but officials say it’s impossible to tell how many may still be buried under the mud.