Nearly half a million evacuated as tropical storm hits China
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BEIJING- Typhoon Nepartak weakened to a strong tropical storm Saturday as it lashed China's east coast, bringing powerful winds and heavy rains that toppled houses and inundated roads.
Fujian province's water resources department said authorities evacuated more than 422,000 people living in risky areas and suspended or canceled several hundred flights and bullet train services.
China's meteorological center said the storm made landfall around 1:45 p.m. in the municipality of Quanzhou, packing winds of 55 miles an hour.
