Hundreds of people in Taiwan who were feared dead in mudslides resulting from Typhoon Morakot have survived their ordeal.

Initially, the residents of a number of villages were thought to have been buried under the mud; however most of them managed to get to higher ground and save themselves. Rescue workers are using 25 helicopters to ferry the survivors to safety.

The official Taiwanese death toll of Typhoon Morokot now stands at 63, while at least 61 people are still missing. The storm, the worst to hit Taiwan for half a century, made landfall on Saturday.

photo: Morakot hits Taiwan (ANP)