Winds of up to 74mph destroy thousands of homes across the south-east pf the country

Nearly a million people were evacuated from their homes in China as Typhoon Morakot battered the south-east coast.

Winds of up to 74mph have already destroyed buildings across the region, with more than 2,000 houses reported to have collapsed in and around Fujian and Zhejiang provinces.

The typhoon caused devastation in Taiwan over the weekend as it blew across the island, with bridges, roads and buildings swept away. At least 12 people are thought to have died and a further 52 are missing.

The Philippines and Japan have also been hit by heavy rains and wind.

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