Typhoon Fitow leaves 2 dead in E China

A woman uses a sheet of plastic to protect herself from rain brought by Typhoon Fitow in Shanghai, Oct 7, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

HANGZHOU - Two people were killed, and more than three million affected as Typhoon Fitow hit East China's Zhejiang province.

Ni Wenlin, 55, from Dongtou county, Wenzhou, died when a strong wind blew him off a hill late Sunday night, according to Wenzhou Flood-Control Headquarters. He was with five others on the way to rescue a fisherman from a nearby port.

The other victim was from Cangnan county also in Wenzhou.

As of 6 am Monday, Typhoon Fitow has affected over 3 million people in eight cities of Zhejiang, causing direct economic damage of 2.28 billion yuan (about $160 million), according to the provincial flood control office.

Typhoon Fitow made landfall in Fujian, in adjacent to Zhejiang, early on Monday, with winds up to 151 km per hour, the National Meteorological Center said.

The storm, the 23rd typhoon to hit China this year, landed in Shacheng township, Fuding, at 1:15 am and will continue to move northwestward. A red alert, the highest warning, was issued for Fitow on Sunday.

From 8 am Saturday to 8 am Monday, the whole province of Zhejiang saw rain of around 130 mm. The typhoon has caused suspension of at least 59 bullet trains in Zhejiang, including services between Ningbo and Xiamen.

Hangzhou International Airport has canceled 22 flights on Monday, while Wenzhou Airport, another pivotal airport in Zhejiang Province, canceled 27 flights on Sunday and had not resumed operations as of 10 am Monday morning.

The highway linking Ningbo, Taizhou and Wenzhou, was also partially closed. Meanwhile, a total of 356 coach lines to Wenzhou city and Fujian province were canceled on Monday.

According to Zhejiang flood control office, Typhoon Fitow, along with the approaching Typhoon Danas, will continue to affect the province with more rainstorms forecasted.