Monster storm Krosa hits coast of China

October 7, 2007

China - Typhoon Krosa clobbered China's south-eastern coast near the border of densely populated Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.

Krosa made landfall where more than one million people have been evacuated from their homes, state media report.

Initially bearing winds of 78 mph, Krosa has weakened to a tropical storm after coming ashore, Chinese officials say.

Five people were killed when the storm battered Taiwan on Saturday.

Fujian province has issued warnings of possible mud and rock slides.

About 27,000 fishing boats have been recalled to port and holidays for emergency workers have been cancelled, state media reports.

Schools have been closed and airline flights cancelled in the port city of Wenzhou, in Zhejiang province.

Strong winds, rainstorms and high tides are forecast.

China is nearing the end of a week-long national holiday, and more than 2,000 vacationers have been evacuated from island resorts.

Shanghai, where the Special Olympics are under way, has recalled all flood prevention workers as a precaution.

However, Chinese forecasters say the storm is likely to move north along the Zhejiang coast and out to sea, avoiding a direct hit on Shanghai.

Typhoon Krosa is the 16th typhoon to hit China this year, official Xinhua news agency reports.

In northern Taiwan, torrential downpours from Typhoon Krosa caused flooding and landslides.

At least five people are reported to have died in storm related accidents and more than 52 people have been injured.

More than three feet of rain fell in places, and wind gusts of more than 185km/h were recorded.

In Taiwan's capital, Taipei, more than 200 trees were uprooted and several floods reported.

Power supplies and transport services were seriously affected.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese officials said at least 40 people had died as a result of Typhoon Lekima, which struck earlier this week, and more than 20 are still missing.

Disaster officials estimate the cost of the damage in Vietnam at more than $40 million.