In Taiwan, the local disaster response center says Typhoon Morakot has killed 62 people and left at least 57 others missing. Another 35 people were injured.

It's the most serious typhoon to hit Taiwan in half a century.

A village in Kaohsiung was completely buried by a massive landslide. About one hundred survivors are waiting for emergency assistance.

Elsewhere in Kaohsiung, rescuers managed to save nearly two hundred villagers on Tuesday. And 17 tourists from the Chinese mainland and their tour guide, who were trapped in the Alishan Scenic Area, were also rescued.

But the rescue operation is facing difficulties, as transportation and communication have been affected.

And Taiwan TV stations say a rescue helicopter crashed on Tuesday afternoon, while flying to Sandimen, a mountainous region in southern Pingtung county.

The reports say the helicopter was carrying five crew members and a nurse when it crashed into a mountain.