9 killed, 153 injured after typhoon hits southern China

By Fuat Kabakci

BEIJING (AA) - At least nine people were killed and 153 injured after typhoon Hato hit south China on Wednesday, according to state media.

Xinhua news agency reported that the typhoon was the strongest one of the year, killing four people in Guangdong province and five in Macao region.

Hato made landfall with winds up to 160 kph and caused heavy rain in the Guangdong province, the report said citing local weather bureau.

Meteorologists had earlier warned of unusually high flooding if the typhoon came during high tides.

Hundreds of thousands of residents in low-lying areas, workers on coastal fish farms, and tourists have been transferred to safer places, said the report.

Power transmission facilities suffered heavy losses, disrupting the electricity supply to 1.91 million households.

Hato is the strongest typhoon of the year to hit China. The country lost 28 people when another typhoon, Meranti, swept past the southern provinces in Sept. last year.