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Dozens lose life as typhoons batter East Asia

Other News Materials 11 August 2009 12:32 (UTC +04:00)

At least 42 people have lost their lives and several others are reported missing as two typhoons slammed into Eastern Asia, reports say.

According to the police official Shigekazu Kamenobu, typhoon Etau killed 12 people in Japan's Hyogo prefecture - some 310 miles (500 kilometers) west of Tokyo - as they were caught in rough waters, reported PressTV.

"At least one man was swept away in a river while he was in a car. His body was later found inside the vehicle," Kamenobu said.

About 2,200 people have been evacuated from their homes and the local residents are dwelling at public schools. Commuter trains were delayed or canceled as heavy rains and strong winds.

In addition, a 68-year-old woman was killed when a mudslide hit a house in Okayama, western Japan.

However, most of the fatalities were reported in Taiwan, where at least 23 people were confirmed dead after Typhoon Morakot slammed into the island at the weekend.

Meanwhile, more than 1 million people have been displaced and dozens others are missing as Typhoon Morakot slammed into China's coastal provinces.

Before reaching China, Typhoon Morakot had killed more than 20 people in the Philippines and caused the worst flooding in Taiwan for 50 years.

Tropical storms and typhoons regularly hit Japan, China Taiwan and the Philippines in the second half of the year, gathering strength from the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean before weakening over land.

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