Beijing, July 15 (RHC)-- A tropical storm has swept across China’s southeastern province of Fujian, killing nearly 70 people.  According to the official Xinhua news agency, 69 people in Fujian had been killed by Thursday, up from an earlier toll of 21, with six missing.

The report also added that more than half a million had been forced to evacuate, adding that around 8,300 homes were also destroyed in the worst-hit province.  Authorities have estimated that the direct economic loss caused by the storm at 1.5 billion dollars.

This comes after Super Typhoon Nepartak brought chaos to Taiwan almost a week ago, killing three people and injuring more than 300 others.  Flooding is common during the summer monsoon season in southern China. However, rainfall has been particularly heavy this year and many areas have recently been lashed by torrential rains.