TAIPEI: Taiwanese TV stations say a helicopter carrying five crew members and a nurse has crashed into a mountain while on a mission to rescue villagers whose homes were destroyed by a powerful typhoon.

The reports say the helicopter was spotted lying in a valley after crashing Tuesday.

They say the helicopter crashed while flying to Sandimen, a mountainous region in southern Pingtung county.

Mudslides triggered by Typhoon Morakot inundated several remote villages in southern Taiwan on Friday and Saturday.

Authorities say at least 41 people were confirmed dead and 60 were missing. Officials said another 100 residents may have been buried alive in Shiao Lin village.