Taiwan Mudslides – Death Toll As Many as 600

A mudslide in Kaohsiung county, Taiwan, after typhoon Morakot. Photograph: AP

A mudslide in Kaohsiung county, Taiwan, after typhoon Morakot. Photograph: AP According to JapanToday, the death toll from the Typhoon Morakot caused mudslides and related damage could be as high as 600 after the typhoon dumped over 2-meters of rain (79-inches!) on the island nation. The mudslide that virtually destroyed the entire village of Hsiao-lin (guardian.co.uk) or Shiaolin (Japan Today) could have as many as 400-500 of those casualties. Most rescue efforts have been halted, but many people are still missing and possibly buried under mudslide and landslide debris as the Taiwanese President is coming under fire for his handling of disaster.  (AP Photo via Guardian.co.uk