Typhoon Haima pounds China; death toll up to 13 in Philippines

Makes landfall in Shanwei city of Guangdong province, triggering floods, landslips and power outages.

October 21, 2016 04:47 pm | Updated December 02, 2016 10:46 am IST - BEIJING:

A woman braves the wind on the waterfront of Victoria Habour as Typhoon Haima approaches Hong Kong on Friday. Typhoon Haima churned toward southern China later in the day after smashing into the northern Philippines with ferocious wind and rain, triggering flooding, landslips and power outages.

A woman braves the wind on the waterfront of Victoria Habour as Typhoon Haima approaches Hong Kong on Friday. Typhoon Haima churned toward southern China later in the day after smashing into the northern Philippines with ferocious wind and rain, triggering flooding, landslips and power outages.

Typhoon Haima barreled into southern China on Friday after hammering the northern Philippines with ferocious wind and rain, triggering flooding, landslips and power outages and killing at least 13 people.

Chinese meteorological services said the typhoon made landfall shortly after noon in the city of Shanwei in Guangdong province, packing winds of up to 166 kilometers (103 miles) per hour before weakening to a tropical storm.

No major damage was immediately reported, though reports said some villages had experienced power outages and officials were on alert for heavy flooding and landslips.

Dozens of flights suspended

China had suspended dozens of flights and rail services in several southern provinces. In the city of Shenzhen, authorities ordered schools, markets and factories to close, halted public transportation and evacuated some areas.

In the Philippines, Haima’s blinding winds and rain on Thursday had rekindled fears of the catastrophe wrought by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which left 7,300 dead, but there has been no report of any major damage. Large casualties appeared to have been averted after more than 100,000 people fled to safer ground. Several villages were cut off by fallen trees, landslides and floods, impeding communications and aid.

Fast-moving storm

At least 13 people were killed, mostly in landslips and floods, in the fast-moving storm, officials said. But the evacuations from high-risk communities helped prevent a larger number of casualties and thousands were still in emergency shelters.

The extent of damage in Cagayan, about 500 kilometers (310 miles) north of Manila, where the typhoon made landfall, was evident in overturned vans, toppled or leaning electric posts and debris blocking roads. Most stores, their window panes shattered and canopies shredded by the wind, were closed.

President Rodrigo Duterte, on a state visit to China, urged people to heed orders by disaster agencies.

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