Typhoon Fitow continues to lash east China

A soldier rescues a woman trapped in the flood caused by Typhoon Fitow in Taoshan Town of Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 7, 2013. Typhoon Fitow brought torrential rainfalls to Zhejiang on Monday. (Xinhua/Guo Guangjie)

Torrential rain caused by Typhoon Fitow continued to lash east China's Zhejiang province on Tuesday and forced the provincial government to initiate the highest emergency response for flood control.

As of 6 p.m. on Monday, the typhoon had left six people dead and four missing, according to the Zhejiang Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

It had affected 6.3 million people in 11 cities of Zhejiang, causing direct economic damage of 8.37 billion yuan (1.36 billion US dollars), according to the headquarters.

Some 4,000 houses collapsed in rainstorms caused by Fitow, the 23rd typhoon to hit China this year. It also damaged roads and suspended power supply in many places.

Fitow made landfall in Fujian Province, adjacent to Zhejiang, early on Monday and brought heavy rain to northern parts of Zhejiang.

Water levels at 13 large-sized and 39 medium-sized reservoirs in Zhejiang had surpassed warning levels, according to the headquarters.