Typhoon Matmo pummels China, 1.55 lakh people evacuated

BEIJING: About 1.55 lakh people were today evacuated in China's Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi provinces after typhoon Matmo made a landfall on the coast.

More than four lakh people have been affected since Matmo landed in Gaoshan Township in Fuqing City yesterday with a wind speed of up to 30 metres per second, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said in a statement.

Around 1.55 lakh people were evacuated in Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi provinces, it said.

A total of 500 houses have been destroyed and 1,100 hectares of crops damaged in Fujian, where direct economic losses are estimated to be USD 50 million, the statement said.

In Zhejiang, 1.35 lakh people were affected and over 100 houses damaged, with direct economic losses reaching 49 million yuan, it said, adding Jiangxi has relocated 1,900.

The typhoon had injured 13 people in Taiwan yesterday. Matmo came days after super typhoon Rammasun struck Chinese coast in which 56 people were killed.

Matmo is the 10th typhoon which hit China this year and second in a week.