5 killed, millions evacuated in China due to Typhoon Haikui

The storm, which came ashore in Zhejiang province early yesterday, brought heavy rains and winds.

China's commercial city Shanghai was lashed by typhoon-triggered rainstorm, with maximum precipitation approaching 130 mm in some areas, local observatory said.

Over two lakh people were evacuated in Shanghai to safer places ahead of the storm. Two persons were killed and seven injured in typhoon-triggered accidents in the city, according to the city's flood control and drought relief headquarters.

Haikui is the third typhoon to wallop China's eastern coast in a week, after storms Saola and Damrey hit the region over the weekend.

A woman died after being hit in the head by a piece of falling glass in Baoshan district.

The wall of a factory in Songjiang district collapsed and fell onto a neighbouring dormitory, killing one and injuring three in the dormitory, state run Xinhua reported.

In neighbouring Anhui province, the typhoon has left one person dead and forced 26,000 others to be evacuated, the report said.

Haikuai, the worst to hit China's coast since 2005, had been downgraded to a severe tropical storm.

In Zhejiang province, the typhoon has affected more than 4.03 million people and caused economic losses of more than USD 1.57 billion, the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters said, adding that the typhoon has also destroyed 4,452 houses and damaged about 184,800 hectares of cropland.

Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou, which was closed yesterday morning, resumed operations by evening.

Zhao Fayuan, an official with the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters, said that although Haikui has weakened, it will still bring heavy rains to central and northern Zhejiang.

The downpours will last for a long period, since Haikui is moving at a comparatively slow speed, Zhao said, adding that the province should be prepared for possible mountain torrents, mudslides and urban flooding.

The provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters said that 180,500 people in the province have been relocated and more than 18,567 ships were ordered to return to port before the rain began.

Lukou Airport in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu, has cancelled 100 flights