1.84 million people have been relocated across 26 provinces [Xinhua]China has issued a red alert for possible disasters from this year’s first typhoon, which is approaching the mainland.
Typhoon Nepartak is whirling toward east China’s coast and is expected to bring storm surges from Friday, meteorology officials said.
China’s state agency Xinhua quoted officials putting the death toll from severe rain and floods at 186 across 26 provincial regions, mainly along the Yangtze River and its distributaries. Scores of people are reported missing.
1.84 million people have already been relocated.
The National Commission for Disaster Relief and Ministry of Civil Affairs issued a fresh warning on Thursday afternoon.
The commission urged Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian and Jiangxi to closely monitor the typhoon. Residents in these provinces have been asked to stock up on food and necessary provision for up to three days.
Floods and landslides have forced the evacuation of 1.84 million people, destroying 56,000 houses and submerging 560,500 hectares of crops.
Authorities estimated economic losses of 57.85 billion yuan ($8.65 billion) from the crisis.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, earlier this week to oversee relief and rescue operations.
TBP and Agencies
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