Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Taiwan's worst floods in 25 years hit today Taiwan, killing people and devastating villages, lefting 21 dead and 14 missing. More than 10,000 people have been stranded in central and southern mountainous areas without fresh water and electricity. The damage done to vegetable crops and fruit, whose prices are increasing, is creating a shortage.

Tropical storm Mindulle, which had killed at least 32 people and left 11 others missing in the Philippines, has pounded the island since the weekend and is likely to batter central and southern Taiwan until Wednesday.

The situation is critical in central Nantou and Taichung counties, where several mountain areas recordered more than 1,100 millimetres of rain. In Nantou County, more than 10,000 residents were

trapped in nine villages in a mountainous region after roads and bridges were washed away. Many sought shelter at churches or public schools after their homes were destroyed by mudslides. The military dispatched about 1,000 soldiers and helicopters hovered around the areas, but were unable to drop food and supplies because of bad weather conditions.

"We are running out of drinking water and milk for children," a villager said. "We hope the skies clear up later so the helicopters can land."

The worst damage was reported in Taichung County, where five hydroelectric power plants were either flooded or covered by mudslides. About 200 engineers and other workers have been trapped in their dormitories since Saturday. Water supply to 200,000 homes in the greater Taichung area was suspended.

Damage at the five plants was estimated at 10 billion New Taiwan dollars (295 million dollars), state-run Taiwan Power said. Taiwan's Council of Agriculture estimated crop, fishery, poultry and infrastructure damage at NT$3.3 billion (98 million dollars). (MR)