Typhoon Chanthu moved deeper into western China Friday, lashing Guangxi province with high winds and rain before weakening to a tropical storm.
Authorities predicted the storm would bring continued downpours to a region that already is suffering the worst flooding in 10 years. The official Xinhua news agency said the official toll now is 742 dead and 367 missing after weeks of flooding from storms.
Chanthu was blamed for three deaths, including two killed when 126-kilometer-per-hour winds knocked over a wall in Guangdong province. In neighboring Hong Kong, officials recovered the body of a man who was swept away late Thursday.
Earlier in Hainan province, authorities suspended all flights in and out, and ordered more than 20,000 fishing boats to return to port and seek shelter.
Xinhua said Chanthu has affected about 1.36 million residents and toppled almost 3,000 houses. It estimated the economic losses at more than $350 million.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.
