HAIKOU, 20 October (BelTA - Xinhua) - Typhoon Sarika has affected up to 3 million people and damaged large swathes of crops after sweeping across southern China's Hainan Province.
The island received an average rainfall of 162 mm, with 93 townships across the island reporting more than 200 mm, according to the provincial meteorological station.
Sarika, the 21st typhoon of the year, made landfall in the eastern coast of the island Tuesday morning, packing winds of up to 162 km per hour. It was the strongest typhoon to hit the island in October since 1971.
No casualties were reported, but 660,000 people were evacuated, said the provincial government Thursday.
Sarika caused damage to 380,000 hectares of crops, resulting in direct economic losses of 4.5 billion yuan (670 million U.S. dollars).
Some 290 reservoirs in Hainan are discharging floodwater on the island. The province will repair damaged roads and bridges as soon as possible to restore traffic, the provincial government said.
