Taipei - Rescuers in Taiwan searched Tuesday for victims of Typhoon Sinlaku, which left at least seven people dead, 11 missing and 20 injured.

At the Fengchiuming Tunnel in central Taiwan's Nantou County, rescuers dug out a minivan, a car and two bodies from a mudslide that buried nine vehicles.

Several backhoes were used to remove earth and rocks that buried the mountainside tunnel and buried one volunteer who was directing traffic Monday afternoon.

Rescuers had managed to rescue seven people and retrieve three dead bodies by Tuesday afternoon.

In Taichung County, divers and solders were combing the Tachia River, after one side of the Fenghou Brdige collapsed during the typhoon Sunday night, causing three cars with six people to plunge into the Tachai River.

Rescuers had recovered one car and its occupant Tuesday.

Rescue operations also continued at the Lushan hot springs resort in highland Nantou County, where several hotels tilted during the typhoon, with one seven-storey structure lying on its side across a river bed.

One woman was buried alive in the Lushan resort while several others were washed away by flooded rivers and listed as missing.

The storm caused severe damage to Taiwan's farm crops and triggered flooding, landslides and rockfalls in central mountains.

Legislator Chiu Yi on Tuesday blamed the government for its slow disaster response. He said Fenghou Bridge pillars were deteriorated and the bridge should have been closed long ago.

Transport Minister Mao Chih-kuo said Tuesday his ministry has made budgets to repair or reinforce some 200 "dangerous bridges" across Taiwan with four years. (dpa)