Typhoon Megi causes landslides to hit two Chinese villages, dozens missing

Heavy typhoon rains caused the landslides to crash into Sucun and Baofeng village in Zheijiang province, destroying scores of buildings and leaving more than 30 people missing

Heavy typhoon rains caused landslides to crash into Sucun and Baofeng villages
Heavy typhoon rains caused landslides to crash into Sucun and Baofeng villages

Two landslides have ploughed into villages in China’s eastern Zhejiang province, swallowing up dozens of houses and leaving more than 30 people missing.

Heavy typhoon rains caused one landslide to crash into Sucun village on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency said.

Rescuers had pulled 15 people from the mud but 27 were still missing, according to state media. Another six people were reportedly missing in Baofeng village after a landslide destroyed their homes.

Earlier on Wednesday, China shut schools and cancelled dozens of flights as Typhoon Megi made landfall in the southern province of Fujian with winds of close to 120kph, Xinhua said.

Megi, which has killed four people and injured more than 523 in Taiwan, made landfall at 9:40pm CET Tuesday, the Guardian reported.

Chinese authorities are said to have issued their third-highest severe weather warning in anticipation of the storm.

According to Xinhua, more than 120,000 people who work close to shore or at sea have been moved by Fujian authorities. The province’s 31,700 fishing boats have been recalled to port to avoid the high winds.

China Southern Airlines said it had cancelled 24 flights beginning from Tuesday.