1mn evacuated in China as super typhoon makes landfall  

PTIBeijing

Super typhoon Ragasa left 17 people dead and 18 injured in Taiwan, while China’s southern Guangdong province, a key global manufacturing hub, evacuated over a million residents in preparation for the powerful storm's landfall expected later on Wednesday.

Described as the most powerful storm to hit the Chinese coast this year, Ragasa, the 18th typhoon of the season, is forecast to make landfall along the coastline of Guangdong province, official media in Beijing reported.

It could become the most powerful storm to strike China so far this year, the state-run CGTN TV said.

In Taiwan, typhoon Ragasa left 17 dead and 18 injured, local authorities said.

According to the island’s emergency operation centre, nearly 100 people remain trapped in the region and were awaiting rescue.

As Ragasa moved closer to making landfall, its impact was already being felt in the Pearl River Delta region, according to the National Meteorological Centre. Wind speeds of 212 kmph were recorded in Zhuhai city.

The typhoon’s outer circulation continued to lash Taiwan’s eastern, northern and southern coastal areas, triggering heavy rainfall.

Over 1.04 million people were relocated in Guangdong, CGTN reported, citing the provincial emergency management department.