Typhoon Fanapi hits China

BEIJING - Typhoon Fanapi hit China’s Fujian province Monday, uprooting trees, ripping off branches and knocking down billboards, but there has been no casualties, officials said.

Officials of the Fujian provincial flood control headquarters said Fanapi hit Gulei township in Zhangpu county at 7 a.m. and lashed coastal areas with winds of speed around 35 metres per second, Xinhua reported.

Primary and middle schools and kindergartens were closed.

“With such strong winds and rain, it is difficult for adults to get around, let alone the kids, so it’s better for them to stay at home,” said a resident named Yang Diwang.

Only a few people were seen on the streets Monday morning and many took taxis to work. “I waited for half an hour to get a cab,” said another resident, Yang Yanhui.

The typhoon had hit Taiwan Sunday, leaving 76 people injured while more than 10,000 were evacuated.

The local agricultural department said losses could exceed 100 million New Taiwan dollars ($3.15 million).

Schools in Tainan, Kaohsiung, Chiayi and Pingtung remained closed because of heavy rains.