28 die from typhoon as new storm looms

dimeji akinloye

September 17, 2016 6:18 PM

Ten people died and four remain unaccounted for in neighbouring Zhejiang after the typhoon brought heavy rainfall.

28 die from typhoon as new storm looms

Meranti, the strongest typhoon to hit China this year, made landfall in Xiamen City, Fujian, on Thursday, with a maximum 17-grade wind force bringing extraordinary rainstorms.

Fujian flood control authorities said that 18 people died and 11 others were missing in the province.

The typhoon paralysed several cities in the south of the province, including Xiamen, Quanzhou and Zhangzhou.

Direct economic losses in Fujian were more than 16.9 billion Yuan (about 2.6 billion dollars).

Zhejiang provincial flood control headquarters said over 902 houses collapsed and over 1.5 million people were affected.

ALSO READ: Savage storm pummels eastern China, killing 98

As Meranti waned, China’s meteorological authority issued a yellow alert for Typhoon Malakas, forecasting strong winds and heavy rain.

“Heavy rain will sweep parts of Zhejiang and Fujian, as well as central and north parts of Taiwan from Saturday to Sunday, with up to 120 millimeters of rain expected,’’ meteorological authorities said.

China has a four-tier colour-coded warning system for severe weather, with red the most serious, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

dimeji akinloye