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China evacuates as storm strikes Deadly storms sweep eastern Asia
(about 4 hours later)
Nearly one-million people have been evacuated from the coastal regions of China as Typhoon Morakot blew in. Two strong storms across the western Pacific have left scores of people dead or missing.
Winds of up 119km/h (74mph) destroyed houses and flooded farmland, a small boy died when a building collapsed, before it weakened to a tropical storm. At least 10 people have been killed in Japan in flash floods generated by the approaching tropical storm Etau.
In Taiwan, where the typhoon hit on Sunday, 12 people are confirmed dead. Meanwhile Typhoon Morakat hit mainland China on Sunday, killing at least one child and prompting almost a million people to flee from coastal areas.
Meanwhile, in Japan nine people are reported dead in floods and landslides after Typhoon Etau brought heavy rain to the west of the country. It had previously hit Taiwan, killing at least 12 people and causing the worst flooding in five decades.
Eight people died in Hyogo prefecture, including one man whose car was swept away by a swollen river, and another died in neighbouring Okayama prefecture. Taiwanese rescue teams are still searching for more than 50 people registered as missing.
Another 10 people are missing. Typhoons and tropical storms are frequent in the region between July and September.
'Treetops visible' Swept away
Chinese state media said that the sky turned completely dark in Beibi, Fujian, when Typhoon Morakot made landfall on Sunday morning. Nearly 50,000 people in western Japan have been told to leave coastal areas after warnings of rain, floods and mudslides triggered by the approaching tropical storm Etau.
Trees were uprooted as high winds and heavy rain lashed the coast, and more than 2,000 houses are reported to have collapsed. Typhoons are frequent in the Pacific region at this time of year
Some 473,000 residents of Zhejiang province were evacuated before the typhoon struck, as well as 480,000 from Fujian, Xinhua news agency said. Eight people have died in Hyogo prefecture, including one man whose car was swept away by a swollen river and a woman who was found dead in a gutter.
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. Another woman was killed in a mudslide in Okayama prefecture.
Rescuers used dinghies to reach worst-hit areas; in one area only the tops of trees were said to be showing above the floodwater. The storm may hit central Japan on Tuesday, an official at the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Taiwan devastation Meanwhile, Typhoon Morakot dumped a record 2.5 metres (100 inches) of rain on Taiwan over the weekend, leaving at least 12 people dead, among them a group reportedly washed away from a makeshift shelter in Kaohsiung in the south.
Earlier, Morakot dumped 250cm of rain on Taiwan as it crossed the island, washing away bridges and roads. In addition to the dead and missing, another 30 people were injured as Morakot buffeted the island with powerful winds.
At least 12 people died and 52 are missing in some of the worst flooding for 50 years, among them a group reportedly washed away from a make-shift shelter in Kaohsiung in the south.
In one incident, an entire hotel - empty at the time - was swept away by the waters.In one incident, an entire hotel - empty at the time - was swept away by the waters.
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Taiwan hotel collapses after typhoonTaiwan hotel collapses after typhoon
At least 10,000 people were trapped in three coastal towns, a local official in the southern county of Pingtung said. The typhoon then went on to hit mainland China on Sunday afternoon, destroying more than 2,000 houses and causing at least one major river to burst its banks.
In Chihpen, one of Taiwan's most famous hot spring resorts, a hotel collapsed after flood waters undermined its foundations. Chinese state media said the sky turned completely dark in Beibi, Fujian, when it made landfall.
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. Trees were uprooted as high winds and heavy rain lashed the coast.
Typhoons are frequent in the region between July and September. Some 473,000 residents of Zhejiang province were evacuated before the storm struck, as well as 480,000 from Fujian, Xinhua news agency said.
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.
Rescuers used dinghies to reach the worst-hit areas; in one area only the tops of trees were said to be showing above the floodwater.
Morakot has also contributed to heavy rains in the Philippines. At least 10 people were killed in flooding and landslides in the north.
It has now weakened into a tropical storm.
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