The Azerbaijan State News Agency

WORLD

China typhoon sparks mass exodus

08.10.2010 [17:43]
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Baku, October 8 (AZERTAC). More than 1.5 million people have been evacuated from their homes in south-east China as the strongest typhoon in decades swept ashore.

At least two people died and 80 others were injured when Typhoon Saomai struck with winds of more than 200km/h (124 mph), state news agency Xinhua said.

The Chinese authorities have deployed 20,000 soldiers for rescue operations in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces.

The provinces had already been damaged by another typhoon last month.

Saomai is the eighth powerful storm to hit China this year.

Typhoons and tropical storms are common in the region between July and October, but this year they have been unusually frequent.

China`s state media said Saomai was the strongest typhoon in 50 years, and stronger than the deadly typhoon Rananim which hit in 2004.