Many killed as Typhoon Fitow hits eastern China with strong winds, rain

Beijing: Five persons were killed and over three million people affected as Typhoon Fitow, packing winds up to 151 km per hour, hit coastal provinces in China on Monday. Typhoon Fitow, the 23rd to hit China this year, barrelled southeastern Fujian province in the wee hours, the National Meteorological Center said. Four others were also listed missing, authorities said. One person died after strong wind blew him off a hill when he was on his way to rescue a fisherman in Dongtou county in east China's Zhejiang Province. Another person from Cangnan County in Zhejiang died when his duck breeding factory collapsed and buried him. Three other persons from Ruian City died of electric shocks, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Two port workers were missing yesterday evening and another two fishermen missing after sailing out on Saturday afternoon. So far, Typhoon Fitow had affected over three million people in eight cities of Zhejiang, causing direct economic damage of 2.28 billion yuan (about USD 160 million), the report said. About five lakh people in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces suffered a power cut. About half a million people were evacuate for safety. Typhoon Fitow made landfall early today in Fujian, near Zhejiang, with winds up to 151 km per hour, the National Meteorological Center said. The storm hit Shacheng Township in early hours and was moving northwestwards. A red alert, the highest warning, was issued for Fitow on Sunday. About 56 bullet trains and 20 flights have been cancelled in Fujian. Hangzhou International Airport cancelled 22 flights today, while Wenzhou Airport, another major airport in Zhejiang, cancelled 27 flights yesterday and had not resumed operations. The highway linking Ningbo, Taizhou and Wenzhou was also partially closed. According to Zhejiang flood control office, Typhoon Fitow, along with the approaching Typhoon Danas, will continue to affect the province with more rainstorms forecast.