Typhoon Nida batters south China

Typhoon Nida made landfall at 3.35 am in the city of Shenzhen in China's Guangdong Province on Tuesday, and has caused direct economic losses estimated at $43 million, according to provincial authorities.

Nida brought strong winds and rain to the eastern part of Guangdong Province and the Pearl River Delta region on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency quoted the provincial meteorological station as saying.

About 22,000 people were evacuated as the typhoon destroyed 4,860 hectares of crops and damaged 485 houses, the department said.

This is the strongest typhoon to hit the Pearl River Delta since 1983, said He Guoqing, Deputy Director of the office of Guangdong provincial flood control headquarters.

Nearly 200 trains were suspended on Tuesday, according to Nanning Railway Bureau.

Nida entered Guangxi via the city of Wuzhou around 5 pm and is moving northwest at 20 km per hour. It is expected to sweep across the counties of Cangwu, Zhaoping, and Mengshan and the cities of Liuzhou and Hechi in the following 24 hours, according to the regional meteorological station of Guangxi.

The local water resources bureau warned that most rivers will be swollen and some small or medium rivers are liable to flood.

As of Tuesday noon, no casualties had been reported in Guangdong.

Nida is predicted to affect southwest China's Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Heavy rain is forecast for Yunnan, which has raised fears of floods and landslides, the provincial meteorological bureau said, warning residents in mountainous areas to take precautions.