Around 400 tourists, including more than 200 from the Chinese mainland, have been stranded by landslides in Taiwan, triggered by Typhoon Megi. Helicopters arrived in the area in Ilan county, where so far 70 people have been rescued.

 

At least 19 tourists from the mainland, a local tour guide, and a driver remain missing, after their bus was buried by mud and rock. The accident happened at a section of the Suao-Hualien Highway, on the island's east coast. The tourists are from Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province. A tour group leader was killed and a mainland tourist injured in the slides.

Local Tour Guide, said, "Mudslides are like waterfalls. Within 3 minutes, the bus was filled with water. 10 minutes later, the bus was buried"

Rescue teams of soldiers and fire fighters are searching for the missing, and transporting food to those stranded. Some people have been escorted out of the mountainous region on foot. Local authorities and rescue teams have dispatched helicopters to drop food and water supplies.

Stranded Visitor, said, "We received food from the air drop this noon. We really appreciate it."

The Taiwan meteorological department says the heavy rains will ease on Saturday.