5 more go missing in China as typhoon Nepartak wrecks havoc 

Beijing, July 10: Five more people were listed missing in China after typhoon Nepartak left a trail of destruction damaging over 1,000 houses and forcing evacuation of over 4.28 lakh people, even as it disrupted several flights and train services in the country.

Nepartak, the first typhoon of the season landed at 1:45 PM in Fujian province's Shishi City, packing winds of up to 100 km per hour. A total of 4,28,800 people in six cities, including the provincial capital of Fuzhou, have been relocated, said the local flood control authorities.

The four counties received precipitations ranging from 282 mm to 405 mm and another 21 counties reported precipitations between 100 mm and 200 mm, state-run a news agency reported today.

Flooding inundated farmland, villages and even urban areas and damaged roads, while five persons were listed as "missing" yesterday. So far 164 people were reported killed and 31 others missing in different provinces in the last few weeks ahead of the typhoon, it said. Five airports have been closed, resulting in cancellation of nearly 400 flights.

A total of 341 high-speed trains and almost 5,000 buses have also been cancelled in view of the typhoon, it said. More than 33,000 fishing boats are taking shelter in port, while air-passenger services and passenger ships to Taiwan across strait also remained suspended. Power supply was out in some remote areas.

A red rainstorm alert was issued in Putian city, which experienced more than 250 mm of precipitation in four hours early this morning. Forty-three people in a residential area were rescued by firefighters after floodwater submersed two buildings.

Many buildings have collapsed and landslides were reported in rural and mountainous areas. Over 22,600 people are checking the city's water projects, local flood control headquarters said.

As the typhoon weakened into a tropical storm after the landing, authorities in Xiamen city lifted the typhoon alert and announced that it would resume the passenger ferry service between Xiamen and Jinmen across the Taiwan Strait.

PTI