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Tropical storm affects 5,100 in Guangdong

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-24 19:18

BEIJING - Heavy downpours brought on by tropical storm Haima, which landed on the coast of south China's Guangdong Province Thursday morning, have affected some 5,100 people and forced the evacuation of 800 of them, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Friday.

Related readings: Tropical storm Haima lands on S China

Rain-triggered floods in the municipalities of Zhuhai, Yunfu, Zhaoqing and Yangjiang inundated 600 hectares of farmlands and destroyed 139 houses as of 3 pm Friday, the ministry said in a statement, citing reports from the local civil affairs agency.

Guangdong has suffered direct economic losses of 9.4 million yuan (around $1.45 million) from the tropical storm, the ministry added.

Meteorological authorities forecasted on Friday that torrential rains will continue to hit parts of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan over the next 24 hours due to the tropical storm, which is approaching Vietnam.