Typhoon Chanchu death toll tops 60

The Asia-wide death toll from Tropical Storm Chanchu rose to 63 today, with at least 27 fisherman still missing at sea as the tempest moved offshore again after battering southern China.

The storm has cut a path of destruction across at least four countries and territories around the South China sea since it rose to typhoon strength and tore through the Philippines last weekend, killing 37.

Chanchu was downgraded from a typhoon as it reached China’s heavily-populated southern coast, but was still powerful enough to cause landslides and flooding and force the evacuation of more than a million people.

Storm-induced landslides and building collapses killed 15 people in Fujian province and left four missing, the provincial Water Resources Department said on its website.

Another eight perished in neighbouring Guangdong province, it said, including a boy and girl aged five and six and their 68-year-old grandfather who were crushed when their home collapsed.

Taiwan and northern Vietnam were also pummelled by the storm’s powerful winds and lashing rain, though it largely bypassed the port and financial centre of Hong Kong.

Officials in Vietnam said 27 fisherman were missing since yesterday after three boats sank in Chinese waters during the storm.

In Taiwan, two women were swept to their deaths by floods in the southern region of Pingtung.

High waves also swept away three 17-year-old male students swimming in Japan’s southern Okinawa island chain, leaving one dead and another missing, said coastguard spokesman Shoji Kawabata. The third was rescued.

The storm, heading towards northern Japan, would continue to weaken but bring heavy rain to Japan and possible flooding in northern Honshu island tomorrow, forecasting service Weather Underground said.

Chanchu caused scores of homes to be flooded in China and officials moved more than a million people to schools and the homes of relatives in Guangdong and Fujian provinces. Nearly 100,000 ships were ordered to return to harbour.