Dozens dead as powerful Typhoon Lekima batters southeastern China

Typhoon Lekima has triggered landslides and floods in southeast China, killed 33 people and forced Shanghai Disneyland to close; it's now travelling north.

Rescuers conduct rescue operation in landslide area caused by Typhoon Lekima, in China's Zhejiang province, 11 August 2019.

Rescuers conduct rescue operation in landslide area caused by Typhoon Lekima, in China's Zhejiang province, 11 August 2019. Source: AAP

The death toll from a powerful typhoon that hit southeastern China has risen to 33, as rescue workers used rubber dinghies to evacuate stranded people as swift currents swept by homes.

China's emergency broadcasting network said 16 people were still missing in Zhejiang province, where 32 died. It reported one more death in neighbouring Anhui province.

Typhoon Lekima triggered landslides and floods after making landfall in Zhejiang early on Saturday, about 300 kilometres south of Shanghai.

Rescuers conduct rescue operation in landslide area caused by Typhoon Lekima, in China's Zhejiang province, 11 August 2019.
Aerial view of landslide area caused by Typhoon Lekima Source: AAP


Most of the victims were in a village in Yongjia county, where a landslide blocked a river that then poured into the small town, killing 23 people. Nine others were unaccounted for.

Footage on state broadcaster CCTV showed buildings that had been smashed by the raging waters and workers using backhoes to clean up the debris.

To the north, parts of the city of Linhai remained flooded on Sunday, with water reaching up to the top of the first floor of buildings, leaving only treetops sticking out. CCTV showed people being rescued with life vests and boats in nearby Xianju county.

Lekima, which has been downgraded to a tropical storm, is expected to dump heavy rain on China's northeast in the coming days as it moves up the Pacific coast.

It forced the closure of Shanghai Disneyland on Saturday.


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