Death toll rises to 17 after Typhoon Hato strikes S China

APD NEWS

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The death toll has climbed to 17 after Typhoon Hato, the worst tropical storm to hit China this year, slammed into the south of the country Wednesday.

The typhoon swept through Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and weakened as it passed into Yunnan Province on Thursday, nearly 20 hours after it made landfall with full force in Guangdong Province and wreaked havoc in Macao.

A man carries a bucket containing drinking water during power outages after Typhoon Hato hits Macao, China on August 24, 2017.

Life in many parts of southern China is beginning to return to normal.

In Guangdong, traffic and power supply are steadily resuming.

Over 600 police officers were involved in clean-up operations in Zhuhai city, and most of the downed trees blocking roads had been removed by 08:00 a.m. Thursday.

A toll booth is damaged by Typhoon Hato in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Aug. 23, 2017.

Zhongshan Port, which suspended shipping services at 20:00 on Tuesday, reopened to the public on Thursday morning.

The port ran an additional seven ships on Thursday to cater to a backlog of passengers trapped by the typhoon, and extra services will run until September 3.

In Macao, the water and electricity supply resumed at a basic level by Thursday evening.

Road traffic was restored Thursday morning, but in some areas cars still move slowly.

All marine and air traffic have resumed operations after storm warning signals were lifted.

(CGTN)