TAIPEI — Three people were found dead in a temple engulfed by mudslides that were triggered by a typhoon lashing the island, an official said Friday, warning that others might be buried under the debris.
Rescuers dug up three bodies, including two nuns, buried under the debris of Bai Yun Temple in Suao, a coastal town in the northeastern Ilan county, said an official at the local fire department.
Rescuers were not certain how many people might have been trapped in the temple as they continued to dig through the ruins but local media said about 10 people were reported missing in the area.
About two dozen people missing are also missing after their buses were trapped along a badly damaged highway in the same area as torrential rains hit, rescuers said.
One Chinese tour guide and a Taiwanese driver were missing after their bus was hit by mudslides, although 21 passengers managed to escape, said the National Fire Agency.
Contact was lost with another bus carrying 19 Chinese tourists and two Taiwanese, the agency added.
About 400 people in 32 vehicles were stuck along the damaged road in Ilan earlier Friday, with six people reportedly injured, officials said.
Seventy people were later airlifted to safety and the rest were expected to leave the area by foot or bus as rescuers managed to clear part of the highway.
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