BEIJING, Aug 12 (NNN-AGENCIES ) – At least 32 people have been killed and 16 others are missing after Typhoon Lekima hit south-eastern China, state news agency Xinhua reported on Sunday.
Most of the deaths occurred on Saturday in Yongia county in Zhejiang province, where torrential downpours triggered a landslide that blocked rivers, creating an artificial reservoir. When it burst, masses of water flooded the village of Yantan.
The weakened storm moved northwards along the coast and made a second landfall in Shandong province late Sunday evening.
The typhoon, which brought with it heavy rain, large waves and strong winds, prompted China’s weather bureau to originally issue a red alert – its highest warning – before later downgrading it to orange. Some 1 million people in its path were forced to evacuate.
State media showed images of flooded roads as well as downed power pylons and trees.
Lekima also caused heavy rains in the megacities of Hangzhou and Shanghai. The provinces of Anhui, Fujian and Jiangsu were also affected. Authorities warned of the risks of landslides or flooding.
In Shanghai, numerous attractions, museums and parks were closed, including the city’s Disneyland for the first time since it opened in 2016.
The super-fast maglev train, which connects to Shanghai’s Pudong Airport, also ceased operations.
Many express trains in eastern China were cancelled as were hundreds of flights.
The typhoon hit Japan and Taiwan on Friday.
A lot of rain fell in northern Taiwan, resulting in more than 3,000 households losing their electricity supply, the authorities said.
More than 500 flights were cancelled on the island.
A 64-year-old man died when a tree fell, while more than 2,500 people in flood-prone areas were brought to safety.
In Japan, more than 60 flights and about 150 ferry services were cancelled in the Ryukyu region, while at least four people in Okinawa prefecture were injured, local media reported.
Lekima is the ninth typhoon in the region this year.
