One million evacuated as typhoon hits China

Authorities evacuated more than one million people as Typhoon Matsa slammed into the coast of southeast of China’s biggest city today, killing at least one person and knocking down street signs and buildings.

Residents of Shanghai, a city of more than 20 million and China’s busiest port, were warned to stay home today and to take precautions to prevent injuries from blowing debris. Both of the city’s airports were closed, with officials saying they would not open until mid-afternoon at the earliest.

One man died and three were injured when a tin and brick dormitory at a construction site downtown was destroyed by strong winds, state television reported.

After dumping torrential rains on Taiwan, the storm hit land near the city of Yuhuan in Zhejiang province and was 180 miles south of Shanghai by early today.

Matsa was downgraded from a typhoon to a severe tropical storm this morning, according to the Hong Kong Observatory, with winds of below 73 miles per hour. The storm was forecast to pass to the west of the city.

Shanghai reported only minor damage, with a few street and building signs knocked down and one downtown road tunnel flooded.

Some 1.24 million residents were moved to safety in Zhejiang, where 164 people were killed last year when Typhoon Rananim churned through, the state-run newspaper China Daily said. That storm was said to be the most powerful to strike China since 1956.

Authorities in Hangzhou issued an emergency notice warning residents that Matsa could be stronger than Rananim. The provincial meteorological bureau has warned of landslides and torrents of mud and rock in the coastal areas and the southern parts of the province, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

Supermarkets in Hangzhou were crammed with people stocking up on candles, flashlights and bottled water, the China Daily said.

Ports were closed southward yesterday along the coast from Shanghai, with forecasters predicting waves up to 40 feet high.

Forecasts were for up to 12 inches of rain, as well as lightning, thunder and hail.