The death toll has risen to 18 as five more people were found dead as of 3:30 p.m. Saturday due to a typhoon-triggered barrier lake burst in eastern China's Zhejiang Province, said local authorities.
Two of the five newly added deaths were previously reported as missing. Up to now, 14 people are still missing, said a source with the provincial publicity department of Yongjia County of the Communist Party of China.
With a maximum wind force of 187 km/h, Typhoon Lekima, the ninth of the year, made landfall at about 1:45 a.m. Saturday in Wenling City, Zhejiang, with Yongjia County the worst hit.
Typhoon Lekima brought heavy rainstorms in Yongjia County and caused a landslide that blocked the rivers, raising the water level to a maximum of 10 m within 10 minutes and trapping 120 villagers.
More than 300 local armed police, public security officers and other first responders were dispatched to the scene to help with the rescue work.
Rescue efforts are underway.
Typhoon Lekima is expected to move at about 15 km per hour northward and westward with abatement of wind, according to the weather forecast.
