Eight killed in typhoon Rammasun in South China

(chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2014-07-19 15:31

A man is blown down to ground by strong wind in Haikou, capital city of Hainan province as typhoon Rammasun makes landfall in Hainan, July 18, 2014. The transportation of Haikou is paralyzed. Water supply and electricity is cut off. Rammasun might be the strongest typhoon to hit Hainan in 40 years. [Photo/IC]

NANNING/HAIKOU - Typhoon Rammasun has killed eight people in South China since Friday afternoon.

Five people are reported dead and 99 injured in Hainan province since first landfall at Wenchang city on Friday afternoon.

Two people in Beihai, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, were confirmed dead and three people in a critical condition have been taken to a local hospital.

Rammasun, believed to be the strongest to hit South China in 41 years, made its third landfall in Guangpo, Fangchenggang city, Guangxi, at around 7:10 am Saturday.

In Fangchenggang on Saturday morning, a tower crane fell, killing one person on the site and injuring two others.

Gales and strong downpours have struck a number of coastal cities in Guangxi since Saturday morning. In Beihai, fallen trees and powerlines have blocked major roads and damaged buildings, with some roofs blown away. Dai Yanhui, a Beihai resident, told Xinhua that he felt his house shaking in the ferocious winds.

"It is the biggest typhoon I have experienced in years," Dai said.

The typhoon paralyzed the power network in the city. As of 9 am, power had not been restored.

In Fangchenggang, roads are strewn with garbage and trees. Gas stations are temporarily closed.

Rammasun has also grounded planes in Nanning, the regional capital. By 10:30 am, a total of 58 inbound and outbound flights at Nanning Wuxu International Airport had been canceled, stranding some 1,300 passengers.

High-speed train services between Nanning and coastal cities have been suspended.

In Guangdong, where the typhoon made a second landfall at Zhanjiang city at 7:30 pm Friday, more than 14,800 people have been relocated. Losses are estimated at 247 million yuan ($39.5 million).