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One million in China flee typhoon Typhoon batters south-east China
(about 3 hours later)
Typhoon Morakot has made landfall on China's south-eastern coast, where the authorities have evacuated almost one million people. Typhoon Morakot has struck China's south-east coast, destroying hundreds of houses and flooding farmland.
The storm crashed ashore on Xiapu, in the eastern province of Fujian, with winds of up to 119km/h (74mph). Almost one million people were evacuated ahead of the storm, which crashed ashore in Fujian province with winds of up to 119km/h (74mph).
Some 473,000 residents of Zhejiang province have been evacuated, as well as 480,000 from Fujian, China's state news agency Xinhua reports. Flights were cancelled and fishing boats recalled to shore. A small boy died when a building collapsed.
It said a child was killed when houses collapsed in Wenzhou city in Zhejiang. Morakot has already hit Taiwan, killing at least three people and causing some of the worst flooding for 50 years.
Xinhua said the four-year-old boy had died after attempts to revive him failed. In one incident, an entire hotel - empty at the time - was swept away by the waters.
More than 35,000 boats have been called to shore and flights from Fuzhou, the provincial capital of Fujian, and the city of Xiamen have been cancelled. 'Treetops visible'
In Fuzhou, people had rushed to supermarkets to stock up on supplies ahead of the typhoon's arrival. Chinese state media said that the sky turned completely dark in Beibi, Fujian, when Typhoon Morakot made landfall at 1620 local time (0820 GMT).
Morakot dumped 250cm of rain on Taiwan as it crossed the island before heading for China, leaving some of the worst flooding to hit some of the southern counties in half a century. Trees were uprooted as high winds and heavy rain lashed the coast.
Morakot has also contributed to heavy rains in the Philippines, where at least 10 people were killed in flooding and landslides in the north. Some 473,000 residents of Zhejiang province were evacuated before the typhoon struck, as well as 480,000 from Fujian, Xinhua news agency said.
Provincial authorities have sent more than 8m mobile phone text messages to residents warning them of the typhoon's approach, the Chinese state news agency reports. In Zhejiang's Wenzhou City a four year-old child was killed when a house collapsed. Dozens of roads were said to be flooded and the city's airport was closed.
Typhoons are frequent in the region between July and September. Rescuers used dinghies to reach worst-hit areas; in one area only the tops of trees were said to be showing above the floodwater.
'Washed away' The storm is expected to move north and weaken, but strong winds are expected to persist for three days, forecasters say.
In Taiwan, more than 200cm of rain fell on Friday and Saturday alone, according to the Central Weather Bureau. Taiwan devastation
At least 29 people were reported missing and one person killed after the typhoon lashed the island. Morakot dumped 250cm of rain on Taiwan as it crossed the island on Saturday, washing away bridges and roads.
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Taiwan hotel collapses after typhoonTaiwan hotel collapses after typhoon
Flash-flooding was reported to have washed away a makeshift home in southern Kaohsiung, leaving 16 people missing. At least three people were known to have died - a woman whose car went into a ditch and two men who drowned.
Three others were swept away in the south-eastern Taitung county, among them two policemen who had been helping to evacuate villagers. Thirty-one others were reported missing, Taiwan's Disaster Relief Centre said. Among them were a group reportedly washed away from a make-shift shelter in Kaohsiung in the south.
A hotel in the south of the island collapsed after flood waters undermined its foundations. At least 10,000 people were trapped in three coastal towns, a local official in the southern county of Pingtung said.
The hotel in Chihpen, one of Taiwan's most famous hot spring resorts, is believed to have been completely evacuated before it collapsed. In Chihpen, one of Taiwan's most famous hot spring resorts, a hotel collapsed after flood waters undermined its foundations.
Morakot - which means emerald in Thai - has also contributed to heavy rains in the Philippines. At least 10 people were killed in flooding and landslides in the north.
Typhoons are frequent in the region between July and September.


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