Typhoon Fitow leaves 5 dead in E China

A woman uses a sheet of plastic to protect herself from rain brought by Typhoon Fitow in Shanghai, Oct 7, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

HANGZHOU - Five people were killed, and 4 others missing as Typhoon Fitow hit east China's Zhejiang Province, affecting more than three million people.

Ni Wenlin, 55, from Dongtou County, Wenzhou, died when a strong wind blew him off a hill late Sunday night, according to Wenzhou Flood-Control Headquarters. He was with five others on the way to rescue a fisherman from a nearby port.

Chen Wanjie, from Cangnan County also in Wenzhou, died when his duck breeding factory collapsed and buried him.

Three other people from Ruian City died of electric shocks. More detailed causes of death are under investigation.

Two port workers were missing on Sunday evening and another two fishermen were missing after sailing out on Saturday afternoon.

As of 6 a.m. Monday, Typhoon Fitow had affected over 3 million people in eight cities of Zhejiang, causing direct economic damage of 2.28 billion yuan (about 160 million U.S.dollars), according to the provincial flood control office.

About 360,000 houses in Zhejiang and 130,000 in Fujian suffered a power cut. About 100,000 visitors to Zhejiang were evacuated as of Monday, according to the provincial tourism bureau. Some of the tourist attractions in Zhejiang's Wenzhou, Taizhou, Ningbo and Zhoushan were closed.

Typhoon Fitow made landfall in Fujian, in adjacent to Zhejiang, early on Monday, with winds up to 151 km per hour, the National Meteorological Center said. The storm, the 23rd typhoon to hit China this year, landed in Shacheng Township, Fuding, at 1:15 a.m and will continue to move northwestward. A red alert, the highest warning, was issued for Fitow on Sunday.

In Fujian, about 176,900 people had been evacuated as of 10 a.m. Monday. The direct economic losses were estimated at 19.06 billion yuan. No death has been reported so far in Fujian, according to the local flood control office.

About 56 bullet trains and 20 flights have been cancelled in Fujian.

In Zhejiang, from 8 a.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Monday, the whole province saw rain of around 130 mm. The typhoon has caused suspension of at least 59 bullet trains in Zhejiang, including services between Ningbo and Xiamen.

Hangzhou International Airport canceled 22 flights on Monday, while Wenzhou Airport, another pivotal airport in Zhejiang, canceled 27 flights on Sunday and had not resumed operations as of 10 a.m. Monday morning.

The highway linking Ningbo, Taizhou and Wenzhou was also partially closed. Meanwhile, a total of 356 coach lines to Wenzhou City and Fujian were canceled on Monday.

According to Zhejiang flood control office, Typhoon Fitow, along with the approaching Typhoon Danas, will continue to affect the province with more rainstorms forecasted.