Hundreds of thousands of Chinese citizens fled the coastlines as authorities issued a red alert due to Typhoon Fitow.
The storm, with maximum sustained winds of 93 m.p.h., made landfall around 1:15 a.m. local time Monday. Forecasters predict as much as 8 inches of rain falling in the early morning hours across three provinces along the southwest coast.
At least two port workers are reported missing in Zhejiang province with many homes already destroyed. Power is reportedly out across hundreds of miles.
Over 750,000 residents of the three provinces were forced to evacuate by Chinese police and military.
Guangdong province, which neighbors the province where the storm’s eye made landfall, had 25 people die when Typhoon Usagi struck just weeks ago.
Chinese state run media is reporting that 41 people have been killed in mass hornet attacks since July.
The China News Agency reports more than 1,600 people have been injured by hornet attacks in Shaanxi province. More than 200 are still hospitalized with 37 in critical condition.
Most of the attacks have been attributed to the Asian giant hornet which can grow up to 2 inches long with a stinger ¼ inch long. The hornet’s venom contains a neurotoxin that can lead to renal failure.
Local officials say warmer weather has contributed to a rise in hornet numbers. Environmental activists blame the increase on rapid urbanization intruding into land where hornets build nests and hunt.
Police and firefighters throughout the region have been given special protective gear to remove or destroy hornet nests. Provincial government authorities have brought in Pest control experts.
Chinese state media is reporting at least 70 people are missing following Typhoon Wutip.
The storm caused at least three fishing boats to sink into the South China Sea and multiple other boats are missing. At least 14 people have been found through rescue efforts by the Chinese military.
The storm then roared into Vietnam causing damage to more than 1,000 homes. The storm uprooted tress and cut power lines throughout the country. Tens of thousands of people were evacuated before the storm in hopes of keeping the death toll down.
Typhoon Wutip is the strongest to hit Vietnam this year. Officials confirm three deaths and at least 26 injuries with the toll expected to rise.
The death toll from Typhoon Usagi in China has jumped to 25 as officials are able to access more areas cut off because of flood waters and damage from the super typhoon.
The dead were either killed by flying debris or drowned in the flash flooding created by the storm. Continue reading →
Southern China bore the brunt of Typhoon Usagi where at least three people have died while neighboring Hong Kong dodged a much stronger hit.
Officials say two people were killed in Guangdong province when a tree fell on the duo while a third people died after being struck by flying glass. Continue reading →
Chinese government officials admitted the collection of at least 100 tons of poisoned fish from a river after what they term an industrial accident.
The recovery process is still ongoing and the amount of dead fish is likely to rise. Continue reading →
Chinese researchers investigating the evolution of the H7N9 bird flu virus that has killed 43 people out of 133 confirmed human cases claim that ducks are the “melting pot” bringing the virus to chickens.
The study claims that ducks picked up various viruses from migrating birds which then mutated and were passed on to chickens. The infected chickens then gave the disease to humans at various animal markets. Continue reading →
Typhoon Utor roared into mainland China with heavy rain causing major flooding that has left at least 105 people dead.
Chinese state media reports that at least 115 people are missing after initial reports from rescuers. The Xinhua news agency says the floods are the “worst in decades.” Continue reading →
Typhoon Utor roared into the Philippines on Monday killing at least two. Officials say at least 44 people have been reported missing.
The storm is reported as the strongest this year; it came ashore in the eastern Aurora province with sustained winds of 109 m.p.h. and gusts over 130 m.p.h. Continue reading →
Health officials in China confirm that a woman in southern Guangdong province has been confirmed to have contracted the H7N9 bird flu.
The 51-year-old poultry worker is in critical condition after being admitted to a hospital with high fever. Continue reading →