TAIWAN’S government yesterday confirmed 292 people were killed and 385 missing after Typhoon Morakot struck the island and caused its worst flooding in half a century earlier this month.

RESCUERS in Taiwan have found nearly 1,000 people alive in the area around three remote villages devastated by Typhoon Morakot, which pummelled the island over the weekend, the country’s military said.

MILITARY helicopters ferried stricken villagers to safety yesterday from remote Taiwanese communities hit by Typhoon Morakot that left at least 70 dead, but hundreds more were still feared trapped by a torrent of mud and rock that buried their homes.

Military helicopters ferried stricken villagers to safety today from remote Taiwanese communities hit by a typhoon that has left at least 70 dead.

More than 40,000 people were fleeing their homes today after Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido was rocked by the strongest earthquake to hit anywhere in the world this year.