Rescuers find 1,000 typhoon survivors

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.

Hundreds more are missing and feared dead in Kaohsiung county, which bore the brunt of the storm, though the official death toll stood at 63, and authorities could only confirm 61 missing.

While other areas of the country were hit hard, rescuers were focusing their efforts on Kaohsiung, believing most of those unaccounted for could be trapped there. But continuing heavy rains were wreaking havoc on their efforts.