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China braced for powerful typhoon Chan-hom China typhoon: Chan-hom hits coast of Zhejiang province
(35 minutes later)
More than 800,000 people have been evacuated from coastal areas of eastern China in anticipation of a powerful typhoon. Powerful typhoon Chan-hom has made landfall along the coast of China's eastern Zhejiang province.
Chan-hom is expected to make landfall south of Shanghai later on Saturday. Almost one million people have been evacuated from coastal areas in anticipation of the typhoon carrying wind speeds of 173km/h (107mph).
Winds have been recorded at up to 187km/h (116 mph) and about 400 flights have been cancelled. Chan-hom's path is expected to take it south of Shanghai later on Saturday.
The storm left five people dead in the Philippines earlier in the week. It also hit Taiwan and Japan, uprooting trees and injuring several people. The storm left five people dead in the Philippines earlier in the week. It also hit Taiwan and Japan, uprooting trees and injuring several people.
China's National Meteorological Centre warned that Chan-hom could be the worst typhoon to strike the region since 1949. Chan-hom first hit Zhejiang province on an island near the city of Ningbo at around 16:40 (08:40 GMT), the National Meteorological Center said.
It was forecast to make landfall in Zhejiang province near the port city of Ningbo, before moving towards Shanghai. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
The BBC's John Sudworth in Shanghai says the city is already feeling the power of the storm, with high winds and heavy rain. A China Central Television reporter was shown broadcasting knee-deep in a flooded street.
Officials in Zhejiang have called nearly 29,000 fishing boats back to port amid reports of waves up to 10m (33ft) high, the official Xinhua news agency reported. The BBC's John Sudworth in Shanghai says more than 400 flights have been cancelled there along with a number of public events, and the government has told people they should stay at home.
Dozens of flights were also cancelled in Zhoushan, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Wenzhou.
Zhejiang province has called its entire fishing fleet back to port.
Some 100 train services were also cancelled.
Chinese television showed footage of coastal regions being battered by torrential rain as the typhoon neared.Chinese television showed footage of coastal regions being battered by torrential rain as the typhoon neared.
Images from the region also showed flooded farmland.
Our correspondent says China is well used to dealing with such storms, although this is possibly the strongest July typhoon to hit Zhejiang since 1949.
The highest red-alert warning remains in force, despite the storm being downgraded in category from super to strong.
How are you preparing for typhoon Chan-hom? If you are in a safe place, contact haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience.How are you preparing for typhoon Chan-hom? If you are in a safe place, contact haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience.
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