Beijing, July 24 (IANS): About 155,000 people in China's Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi provinces were evacuated as of 9 a.m. Thursday after typhoon Matmo made landfall in Fujian province Wednesday afternoon.
More than 403,000 people have been affected since Matmo landed in Gaoshan township in Fuqing city at 3.30 p.m. Wednesday with a wind speed of up to 30 metres per second, Xinhua reported citing a statement issued by China's civil affairs ministry.
A total of 500 houses have been destroyed and 1,100 hectares of crops damaged in Fujian, where direct economic losses are estimated at 310 million yuan ($50 million), the statement said.
In Zhejiang, 135,000 people were affected and over 100 houses damaged with direct economic losses reaching 49 million yuan, it said, adding 1,900 residents of Jiangxi have relocated.