Typhoon kills at least 14 in China

SHANGHAI – At least 14 people were killed in China as Typhoon Khanun ground its way inland yesterday, causing widespread damage and forcing the evacuation of more than a million people in coastal areas.

Khanun, the 15th typhoon to hit China this year, slammed into the eastern province of Zhejiang on Sunday, with a preliminary death toll of 14 in that area alone, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on its website. Seven people died when a flood swept through Qinglin village, near the Zhejiang city of Ningbo, swamping 20 houses, Xinhua news agency reported.The agency also reported that a resident of Taizhou city in Zhejiang was electrocuted after a power line was knocked loose by the storm.Eight others were reported missing yesterday, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said, adding that 5,5 million residents were affected in Zhejiang.At least 1,05 million were evacuated.Xinhua said vast tracts of farmland were flooded and reservoirs damaged with economic losses estimated at 6,89 billion yuan (US$849 million) from a typhoon meteorologists described as the strongest in China this year.After leaving the province, the storm, packing force 12 winds, rolled from south to north across Jiangsu province, home to 74 million people, hitting nearly every major city on its way and ripping up trees and power lines.- Nampa-AFPSeven people died when a flood swept through Qinglin village, near the Zhejiang city of Ningbo, swamping 20 houses, Xinhua news agency reported.The agency also reported that a resident of Taizhou city in Zhejiang was electrocuted after a power line was knocked loose by the storm.Eight others were reported missing yesterday, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said, adding that 5,5 million residents were affected in Zhejiang.At least 1,05 million were evacuated.Xinhua said vast tracts of farmland were flooded and reservoirs damaged with economic losses estimated at 6,89 billion yuan (US$849 million) from a typhoon meteorologists described as the strongest in China this year.After leaving the province, the storm, packing force 12 winds, rolled from south to north across Jiangsu province, home to 74 million people, hitting nearly every major city on its way and ripping up trees and power lines.- Nampa-AFP