Rescuers fight Taiwan floods as 19 die and 10,000 stranded

RESCUERS are battling against Taiwan’s worst floods in 25 years, which have killed at least 19 people and stranded 10,000 villagers without fresh water and electricity in mountainous areas, officials said.

Around 200 engineers and workers at five hydroelectric plants were also stranded by raging floodwaters and mudslides, Taiwan’s National Disaster Relief Centre said.

Tropical storm Mindulle pounded Taiwan with rains that sparked disastrous flooding after hitting the Philippines, where it killed at least 32 people and left 11 others missing.

In Taiwan, 19 people have been killed and nine others are missing and feared dead.

Heavy rains may batter central and southern Taiwan until Wednesday, the Central Weather Bureau said.

In central Nantou County, over 10,000 residents were trapped in nine villages in a mountainous region after roads and bridges were washed away. Many sought shelter at churches or public schools after their homes were destroyed by mudslides, officials said.

The military dispatched about 1,000 soldiers to rescue villagers and tourists trapped in the flood-devastated regions, officials said.

Helicopters were unable to drop food and supplies because of bad weather conditions, a villager said.

“We are running out of drinking water and milk for children,” the villager said.