Chinese weather authorities on Monday morning lifted a typhoon warning signal as Tropical Storm Soudelor weakened into a tropical depression after killing at least 14 people and leaving a trail of damage along the country’s eastern coast. However, an amber rainstorm warning remains in place as heavy downpour is forecast in Shanghai, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangsu, northern Fujian and southeastern Henan, according to the Central Meteorological Observatory (CMO).
Much of Fujian Province remained flooded on Monday as some took the opportunity to catch fish on the streets.
Three airports in Fujian were closed and over 500 flights were cancelled over the weekend, the government said. Six highways and 191 high-speed trains were also suspended.
Around three million households had their electricity cut off but over 60 percent have since been restored as of 5pm on Sunday, said the State Grid Corporation of China’s Fujian branch.
According to the Zhejiang Climate Centre, some townships in the province including Taishun, Wencheng and Pingyang recorded a daily rainfall of 300-500mm, a record high in the past 100-120 years.
Zhejiang authorities said 14 people have died in flooding and landslides, including an old couple who were buried after their house collapsed in Lishui. Four people are still missing.
In Fuzhou, Fujian, a journalist was crushed by a wall that collapsed on Saturday. Lu Fengqing from the Southeast Express was trying to move his car to safety when the wall fell on him, the newspaper said.
The Zhejiang government said about 1.58 million people have been affected by Soudelor, including 188,400 who were evacuated. Rainstorms also damaged houses, crops, roads and power lines.
Over 10,000 tourists in Mount Lu were evacuated after Soudelor entered Jiangxi Province on Sunday afternoon. Local authorities also closed multiple scenic spots.
