Landslides caused by Typhoon Megi kill 13 in China
Typhoon Megi has wreaked havoc over the residents of China. The typhoon caused two massive landslides in Southeastern China due to which thirteen people have already been killed. The toll may even rise further as rescue operations are in full swing for the search of twenty people who remain missing.
The landslides occurred in the Zhejiang province which lies south of Shanghai. Typhoon Megi has brought torrential rains along with gusty winds during the past few days. As per reports, eight people have been killed in Sucun village.
Typhoon Megi has affected at least 2 million people in three provinces of Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi. Megi happens to be the 17th typhoon of this year. It had made landfall in Fujian on Wednesday. Along with loss of lives, the typhoon has also caused much damage to agriculture and homes. AS per reports, there has been a direct economic loss of $829 million due to Megi.
Typhoon Megi: Torrential rains trigger landslide in China, scores missing
Over 33 people are missing in Eastern China's Zhejiang province, wherein heavy rains triggered two major landslides. This was on account of the Typhoon Megi which has already killed one person in eastern China and four in Taiwan and injuring 625 people.
Reportedly, several homes and streets were submerged in flood waters in Sucun village of Suichang county, leaving 26 people missing. Some people were also missing in Baofeng in Wencheng county.
Relief operations are underway and around 15 people have been rescued so far.
Though Typhoon Megi has weakened into a tropical rainstorm, but the system will continue to pound flooding rains through late week. Threat of more mudslides and landslides are also looming large in the higher terrain.
Weathermen predict that torrential rains ranging from 100 mm 200 mm will be common across over the several areas such as Guangdong, Fujian and Jiangxi.
By Friday, rain belt will move northwards covering areas like Anhui and Jiangsu which may also get battered by heavy rains amounting between 50 mm and 100 mm.
Typhoon Megi makes landfall in China, claims 4 lives in Taiwan
After battering Taiwan, Typhoon Megi made second landfall in eastern China on Wednesday. Megi had hit the coastal city of Quanzhou in Fujian province during the early hours of the day.
At the time of landfall, the system was accompanied with the damaging winds gusting up to 120 kmph. However, no injuries were reported in China. Megi has also weakened into a tropical storm after crossing the coast.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, the super typhoon had claimed four lives and injured over 350 people. Reportedly, the high velocity winds snapped the electricity of more than 2.9 million Taiwanese households and businesses.
The typhoon had an adverse effect on Taiwan as the region saw squally winds and flooding rains throughout Tuesday. Over 8000 people were evacuated and shifted to the relief shelters set up across the island.
People could see debris flying, moreover, the storm was so forceful that it knocked down a 635-ton crane at a harbor in the eastern area of Hualien.
At Taipei's Taoyuan International Airport also suffered some damage with maximum sustained winds of 159 kmph. In wake of this, both the domestic and international flights were canceled. Offices, schools and universities were also closed on Tuesday.
This is the third consecutive typhoon in September to the rock the island nation. Earlier in the month, Super Typhoon Meranti had battered Taiwan, which was later followed by Typhoon Malakas.
Strong Typhoon Megi in Philippines Sea has finally made landfall in northeastern Taiwan on Tuesday, injuring over 38 people. Millions of homes were left without power as squally winds snapped the electricity across region.
The storm has already triggered massive rainfall, as Yilan County reported around 965 mm of rainfall.
According to Skymet Weather, Megi will continue to move across Taiwan, producing destructive winds and flooding rain throughout Tuesday.
Thereafter, the system is likely to weaken but will still make a second landfall in Fujian, Southeast China after the next 24 hours.
Taiwan and Southeast China will continue to witness some inclement weather during the next 24 hours.
Weathermen predict that winds are gusting up to 200 kmph, with some torrential rainfall exceeding 250 mm in several areas. Meanwhile, hilly region could see rains above 500 mm.
Although Megi will pass well to the south of Taipei, but the city could still get damaging winds gusting up to 115-145 kmph.
According to weathermen, Megi is likely to start weakening as it travels across the land in Southeast China, subsequently dissipating Wednesday onwards into Thursday. However, torrential rains will continue to batter the region throughout.
Image credit: www.straitstimes.com
Any information taken from here should be attributed to skymetweather.com
