At least 32 people have died and more than a million forced from their homes after Typhoon Lekima hit eastern China, according to news agency Xinhua.
Lekima made landfall in Wenling in the eastern Zhejiang province on 10 August, 2019, with maximum winds of 187 km/h.
Most of the deaths occurred in Shanzao Village of Yantan Township in Yongjia, Zhejiang Province, where torrential rain caused a landslide that blocked a river. The barrier lake burst and flood waters swept people away. At least 16 others have been reported missing in the area. CCTV reported 160mm of rain fell within three hours in the area.
More than 800,000 people in Zhejiang province and 250,000 in the densely populated city of Shanghai have been evacuated. Over 200 homes in Zhejiang province have been completely destroyed in the storm. Storm damage to power lines has cut power supply to almost 3 million households.
Lekimam, downgraded to a tropical storm, is now moving northwards along the coast of Shandong Province. China’s National Meteorological Center warned that the storm is expected to make a second landfall in Shandong late on Sunday, 11 August, bringing strong winds and heavy rain.
