Society

Typhoon Fanapi kills 54 in South China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-23 17:35

GUANGZHOU - Floods, landslides and heavy downpours brought by typhoon Fanapi had claimed 54 lives in South China's Guangdong province, while another 42 were missing, local authorities said Thursday.

Rescuers help evacuate local residents on September 21, 2010 in a flooded town of Yangchun city, South China's Guangdong province, after torrential rains brought by Typhoon Fanapi hit several areas in the province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Meanwhile, more than 1.16 million people were affected and 79,400 in low-lying areas were forced to be evacuated, the provincial flood control headquarters said in a statement.

Related readings:  Typhoon Fanapi ravages South China  Typhoon Fanapi leaves 33 dead, 42 missing in south China  Typhoon Fanapi hits Fujian province  Typhoon Fanapi lands on Fujian Province

The provincial government had to use helicopters to airdrop relief materials to victims Thursday.

Rainstorms and and geological disasters had destroyed more than 3,637 homes and inundated more than 35,900 hectares of cropland, the headquarters said.

Direct economic losses were estimated at about 2.11 billion yuan ($315 million).

The Ministry of Civil Affairs said Thursday that 2,000 tents, and 1,000 folding beds had been sent to Guangdong.

Typhoon Fanapi, the 11th and strongest typhoon that hit China this year, landed in Fujian province at 7 am Monday, but wreaked most havoc in Guangdong, which neighbors Fujian on the south.

No casualties have been reported in Fujian.