Typhoon Sinlaku's death toll in Taiwan rose to 11, with another 11 people missing after the powerful storm lashed at the island, authorities said yesterday.

The victims included seven people killed when their cars were crushed by a tunnel that collapsed under the weight of a massive landslide in central Taiwan on Monday, the Disaster Relief Center said.

Typhoon Sinlaku's death toll in Taiwan rose to 11, with another 11 people missing after the powerful storm lashed at the island. The victims included seven people killed when their cars were crushed by a tunnel that collapsed under the weight of a massive landslide in central Taiwan on Monday.

Authorities said rescuers were still searching for five people missing after a section of a 600-meter bridge over the Tachia River in central Taiwan collapsed under heavy rain on Sunday. The body of one driver has been recovered.

At least three other bridges around the island were closed after their pillars or surfaces showed cracks in the wake of the storm.

The typhoon has caused NT$501 million (US$15.6 million) in farming losses, according to the agriculture authorities.

Facing severe criticism, the Taiwanese government has pledged to bolster the structures of all bridges.

The typhoon slammed into the northeast coast of Taiwan on Sunday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. Elevated areas in central Taiwan recorded more than 160 centimeters of rain, and several large rivers overflowed their banks, forcing authorities to evacuate hundreds of people.

Sinlaku, downgraded to a tropical storm, was at sea 525 kilometers north of Keelung on the northern tip of Taiwan yesterday.