Death toll from tropical storm in China rises to 10

By Mahmut Atanur

BEIJING

A total of 10 people have been confirmed dead while at least 11 others remain missing after a tropical storm hit eastern China.

The state-run People’s Daily Online reported Tuesday that Nepartak, which made landfall over the weekend, also caused an estimated economic loss of 2.2 billion yuan (around $320 million) in Minqing County in Fujian -- one of the hardest-hit provinces.

It cited the local government as saying that around 34,400 people were still evacuated in Minqing, with the total figure across Fujian recorded at 213,000.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs has earlier revealed that around 449,000 people were affected in Fujian and neighboring Jiangxi.

Nepartak was downgraded from a typhoon to a tropical storm around the time it hit China's east coast at noon Saturday.

Before making landfall on the mainland, Nepartak swept through Taiwan where the ministry of health and welfare reported that two people were killed and more than 300 others injured.

The mainland had been bracing for the storm following more than a week of torrential rains that left at least 160 people dead.

By Mahmut Atanur

BEIJING

A total of 10 people have been confirmed dead while at least 11 others remain missing after a tropical storm hit eastern China.

It cited the local government as saying that around 34,400 people were still evacuated in Minqing, with the total figure across Fujian recorded at 213,000.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs has earlier revealed that around 449,000 people were affected in Fujian and neighboring Jiangxi.

Nepartak was downgraded from a typhoon to a tropical storm around the time it hit China's east coast at noon Saturday.

Before making landfall on the mainland, Nepartak swept through Taiwan where the ministry of health and welfare reported that two people were killed and more than 300 others injured.

The mainland had been bracing for the storm following more than a week of torrential rains that left at least 160 people dead.