Typhoon Mangkhut: four dead in southern China, residents warned to remain alert
The clean-up begins as China’s southern provinces assess the damage of the biggest tropical storm of the year
At least four people have been killed in southern China after Typhoon Mangkhut, the most powerful tropical storm to hit the county this year, barrelled into the southern province of Guangdong, the local government said on Monday.
Three people were killed by falling trees in the provincial capital Guangzhou while another person died after being hit by an advertising hoarding that collapsed in Dongguan, the state-run People’s Daily reported.
About 3.1 million people were evacuated before the typhoon hit, according to local newspaper Nanfang Daily, while state television said that more than 500,000 people had been affected by the storm.
Mangkhut made landfall in western Guangdong on Sunday afternoon before moving into the neighbouring Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region about midnight.
While the worst of the high winds appear to have passed, meteorological authorities warned residents to remain alert to the risk of floods and landslides.
In Guangzhou, Baiyun International Airport service resumed at 8am on Monday, but passengers were advised to check with their airlines about possible changes to flight information.