2010-09-11 21:36

FUZHOU - Tropical storm Meranti killed three people and affected more than one million in east China's Fujian Province after it made landfall Friday afternoon, local authorities said Saturday.

Trees were rooted out by the wind in Shishi city, Southeast China's Fujian province Sept 10, 2010. A total of 145,300 people in Fujian were evacuated to avoid rain- and wind-triggered accidents. [Photo/Xinhua]

The three people were killed after strong winds destroyed their houses, said a statement of the Fujian provincial office of flood control.

More than 186,500 people were evacuated and 1.05 million people were affected. Direct economic losses in the province are estimated at 800.3 million yuan (about $117.7 million), said the statement.

Meranti made landfall at Shishi City at 3:30 am Friday, with a wind speed of 108 km per hour at its center.

The tropical storm left Fujian and entered neighboring Zhejiang Province at 7 pm Friday.