Eight bodies had been pulled from a mudslide which toppled homes in Kuangfu village in the eastern county of Hualien, according to official report, adding at least 10 others were feared still buried.

In Lugu village of central Nantou county, six people, including children, were missing after mudslides triggered by torrential rains washed away their homes it added.

Schools and offices throughout the island were closed and most air and rail traffic was cancelled as the typhoon hit with torrential downpours and winds of 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour.

Toraji was downgraded to a tropical storm after its landfall at 8:20 am (0020 GMT) at Hualien's Hsiuguluan River Monday. It was located at 50 kilometers (31 miles) northeast of Hualien at 0000 GMT, moving north-northwest at 14 kilometers per hour, according to the central weather bureau.

The island has been battered by a series of storms this typhoon season.

At least five people were killed in the southern Kaohsiung district in the worst floods in 40 years, caused by tropical storm Trami two weeks ago.

One person was killed and six injured during Typhoon Utor's attack in early July.

tropical storm Chebi swept through in June taking around 30 lives.

(Agencies 07/30/2001)