Typhoon Rammasun kills 62 in China

BEIJING - The body count from super typhoon Rammasun in China has reached 62 with another 21 people still missing, according to latest figures from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The strongest typhoon to hit south China in four decades, Rammasun brought gales, downpours and floods to four southern China, affecting over 11 million people in Guangdong, Hainan, Yunnan and Guangxi, the ministry said in a statement on Friday.

A total of 862,000 people have been resettled and some 261,000 are in urgent need of basic necessities. The typhoon also caused direct economic losses of 38.5 billion yuan (6.25 billion US dollars).

Roads, power and water supplies and telecommunications in affected areas have been badly damaged.

Natural disasters -- floods and hail, typhoons and earthquakes -- have affected 120 million people this year in China, leaving a total of 533 people dead and 97 missing.

The ministry has launched 15 emergency response programs and worked with the Ministry of Finance to provide 1.97 billion yuan to people affected.