Military helps out villagers stranded by heavy mudslides

The military transported food and supplies yesterday to eight Aboriginal communities in Nantou County's Jenai township, which has had its regular links with the outside world cut by heavy mudslides.

Army trucks were used to move the initial batch of food and supplies because of the heavy rain during the past week. When the skies cleared later in the day, two helicopters were also deployed to carry bags of rice and noodles to rain-stricken areas, local media reported.

Soldiers have come to play an increasingly important role in disaster relief in central Taiwan since the 921 earthquake.