Typhoon Fitow makes landfall in east China

Beijing, Oct 7: Typhoon Fitow made landfall in east China's Fujian province in the wee hours Monday, with winds of up to 151 km per hour, Xinhua reported citing the National Meteorological Centre.

The storm, the 23rd typhoon to hit China this year, landed in Shacheng township of Fuding city at 1:15 a.m. It will continue to move northwestward but weaken quickly, said the centre. A red alert, the highest warning, was issued for Fitow Sunday.

Due to the typhoon, power was cut off in Taishun county, Zhejiang province, at 11 p.m. Sunday. The power blackout also hit many townships in Cangnan, Wencheng, Pingyang and Dongtou counties in Zhejiang, authorities said.

Mao Fanggui, director of the emergency office in Taishun County, said downpour was lashing the county and most townships in the county were hit by blackout.

Till Sunday evening, some 574,000 people were evacuated and 35,795 vessels returned to harbour for shelter, said the Zhejiang Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

A boy in Cangnan County was injured in the abdomen by glass debris due to strong winds. He was being treated by doctors.

Rainstorm and winds up to 201 km per hour slashed Cangnan county and the Nanji Island township, and some houses collapsed in the county, said the Wenzhou flood control headquarters.

In Fujian, 177,000 people were displaced and nearly 30,000 fishing boats were called back.

The typhoon has caused suspension of bullet trains in several cities in Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi and halted services on at least 35 lines that pass cities on the typhoon route, including services between Beijing and Nanjing, Shanghai, Ningbo, Fuzhou and Xiamen.

Wenzhou Airport, a pivotal airport in Zhejiang province, canceled 27 flights Sunday, including flights to Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Kunming.

Coach services between Shanghai and Wenzhou were also suspended. Maritime authorities in Fujian and Zhejiang have closed seaside bathing centres and other entertainment facilities on the coast.

IANS