Typhoon Lekima leaves at least 30 people dead, 5 million more affected

PHOTO: China Daily/ANN

At least 30 people are reported dead from the deadly typhoon in East China’s Zhejiang province. Another 20 people are missing and the death toll is expected to rise.

Most of the deaths occurred in Yongjia county where torrential downpours caused a landslide that blocked rivers. The barrier lake bursted and flooded people away. Twenty two people have died and 10 remain missing, feared dead.

Nearly 1.08 million people have been evacuated to safe places, and close to 5 million people in Zhejiang are affected, according to the provincial flood control headquarters.

Three were killed in Lin’an, with four missing, while three died in Leqing, with three missing, and three went unaccounted for in Linhai. Lekima, the ninth typhoon of this year, landed early Saturday morning in Zhejiang, bringing heavy rainstorms and triggering flash floods.

In Zhejiang, the typhoon damaged more than 34,000 houses. Direct economic loss is in excess of 15 billion yuan (about US$2.1 billion) and rescue operations are underway. Lekima is moving northwards and will churn up the east coast of Shandong Province on Sunday.

It is expected to make a second landing along the coastline in Shandong late Sunday, bringing strong wind and heavy downpours, the National Meteorological Centre warned on Sunday.

Shandong air traffic management bureau said the typhoon will greatly affect traffic in airports of the area. A total of 47 flights have already been cancelled, postposed or re-directed.

In Shanghai, the local weather office issued an orange alert yesterday afternoon, with heavy downpours hitting the area last night.