China: 58,000 evacuated as Typhoon Nesat lands

About 58,000 people have been evacuated in southern China as Typhoon Nesat, the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year, landed on the island province of Hainan Thursday afternoon.

Packing winds of 42 meters per second at its center, it made landfall in the township of Wengtian in Wenchang at 2:30 p.m., bringing heavy winds and torrential rains to the city in eastern Hainan, Xinhua reports.

The province also has recalled ships, suspended flight and ferry services and closed schools to brace for Nesat, which is the 17th typhoon that hit China this year.

The storm swept past Hong Kong earlier in the day, coming within 220 miles, forcing the stock market to suspend trading and shops, schools and government buildings to close for the day in preparation, Associated Press reports.

Hong Kong had raised its highest storm warning – Number 8 – in two years as Typhoon Nesat swept gale-force winds and rain into the city, Bloomberg reports.

It has already killed at least 35 people in the Philippines.

Gusting winds and rain battered the streets in the central business district, with trees falling and bamboo scaffolding being ripped off buildings, it reports.

Bus, tram and ferry services were suspended and at least 38 flights were delayed at the airport.

‘‘It’s deadly quiet outside, like a dark, wet, ghost town,’’ said Gavin Parry, managing director of brokerage Parry International Trading Ltd., who walked to work today.

‘‘There are few mini buses, no public buses and taxis are trawling for passengers to pay an extra HK$100 fare, given the typhoon.’'