Nearly half a million evacuated as tropical storm hits China

BEIJING – Typhoon Nepartak weakened to a strong tropical storm Saturday as it lashed China’s east coast, bringing powerful winds and heavy rains that toppled houses and inundated roads.

Fujian province’s water resources department said authorities evacuated more than 422,000 people living in risky areas and suspended or cancelled several hundred flights and bullet train services.

China’s meteorological centre said the storm made landfall around 1:45 p.m. in the municipality of Quanzhou, packing winds of 90 kilometres (55 miles) an hour.

State broadcaster China Central Television said the storm triggered waves 4-5 metres (13-16 feet) high.

The typhoon had left two people dead and 72 injured in Taiwan.

China is already contending with some of the worst flooding the country has experienced in recent years. Since June 30, torrential rain, floods, landslides and hailstorms have killed 164 people and left 26 missing in 11 provinces, according to the civil affairs ministry.