Taiwan lowers Typhoon Ragasa death toll to 14; China starts cleanup

The weakened tempest remains a rainfall menace to Vietnam and different parts of Southeast Asia.

Taiwan has lowered the decease toll from Typhoon Ragasa by 3 to 14 arsenic the weakened tropical tempest moves done China and heads to Vietnam.

The Hualien County Fire Department connected Thursday adjusted the erstwhile day’s decease toll from 17, saying immoderate casualties had been counted doubly arsenic the interaction connected the island’s distant eastbound seashore is documented.

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The fig of missing radical was besides lowered to 33 from 152 connected Wednesday, arsenic the hunt for those reported to beryllium retired of interaction continued.

The deaths came aft the typhoon’s outer bands brought dense rainfall to Hualien County, causing a obstruction water successful the mountains to overflow, unleashing a partition of h2o onto the municipality of Guangfu.

Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai said the deaths, which mostly happened connected the archetypal floors of buildings, indispensable beryllium investigated, and authorities indispensable “seize the aureate rescue window” to find the missing.

While Guangfu’s bid presumption is backmost successful operation, the main road has been chopped disconnected aft floodwaters swept distant the bridge.

Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te connected Wednesday pledged a period of his wage to alleviation efforts for displaced residents, and is visiting the catastrophe portion aboriginal connected Thursday.

China cleanup

Ragasa churned into mainland China’s Guangdong state precocious connected Wednesday, with winds up to 145km/h (90mph), aft sweeping past Hong Kong.

People successful confederate China began cleaning up the harm connected Thursday.

Journalists from the AFP quality bureau astatine the interaction constituent astir the metropolis of Yangjiang connected Thursday saw fallen trees, portion roadworthy signs and debris were strewn crossed the streets.

However, authorities person not reported immoderate storm-related deaths.

On Hailing – an land administered by Yangjiang – alleviation workers attempted to wide a immense histrion that had fallen crossed a wide road.

The land is simply a fashionable vacation spot, and galore locals trust connected the tourism manufacture to marque a living.

By the clip the tempest deed Hailing, authorities had ordered businesses and schools to unopen down successful astatine slightest 10 cities crossed the nation’s south, affecting tens of millions of people.

Nearly 2.2 cardinal radical successful Guangdong were relocated by Wednesday afternoon, but section officials aboriginal said respective cities successful the state started lifting restrictions connected schools and businesses.

Chinese authorities broadcaster CCTV said Ragasa made its 2nd landfall successful Beihai, Guangxi, connected Thursday greeting arsenic a tropical storm.

Chinese authorities earmarked the equivalent of astir $49m to enactment rescue and alleviation work, the Xinhua quality bureau said.

By Thursday morning, Ragasa’s sustained winds had weakened to a maximum 65km/h (40mph), and it was forecast to dissipate eventually, portion remaining a rainfall menace for Vietnam and different parts of Southeast Asia.