Over 400,000 relocated as tropical storm hits China

By Mahmut Atanur

BEIJING (AA) – More than 420,000 people were relocated in east China as a tropical storm caused the disruption of hundreds of flights and train services Saturday.

Torrential rains and winds of around 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour were recorded in Fujian Province, a day after Typhoon Nepartak left three people dead in Taiwan, where it made landfall.

State news agency Xinhua reported that residents had been relocated in four cities including the provincial capital of Fuzhou, and five airports closed.

Almost 400 flights and 5,000 buses and more than 340 high-speed trains were canceled.

Some buildings were reported to have collapsed, while landslides hit rural and mountainous areas.

Xinhua said that a total of 43 people were reported rescued from two buildings that flooded.

The mainland had been bracing for Nepartak following more than a week of torrential rains that left at least 160 people dead and more than 20 others still missing.

The storm had earlier been categorized as a typhoon as it swept through Taiwan packing winds of around 190 kilometers per hour.