USAGI Disaster Update: 25 Dead; 7,100 Homes Destroyed

Typhoon USAGI Causes Major Disaster in S. China

The powerful typhoon has killed at least 25 people in south China’s Guangdong province, authorities said.

Previously, officials said the typhoon had also claimed more than a dozen lives in the neighboring Fujian province.

USAGI, the 19th and the most powerful typhoon to hit China so far this year, made landfall Sunday night with wind gusting up to 180 km/h.

The powerful typhoon has affected more than 3.56 million people in Guangdong province alone, forcing at least 226,000 people out of their homes, Xinhua said.

“The typhoon has also caused 7,100 homes to collapse and resulted in direct economic losses of 3.24 billion yuan (529.5 million U.S. dollars).”

“Thousands of people have been evacuated from low-lying coastal areas and border police in Yunxiao County are rushing to repair two embankment sections that were damaged by strong waves.”

On Sunday, thousands of flights in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hong Kong and Macao were canceled or delayed, and shipping between Fujian and Taiwan was suspended.

Hong Kong was hit by severe winds and torrential rain, forcing schools and businesses to close, but the territory escaped a direct hit by the typhoon.