More than 33 people have died and 16 are missing after powerful Typhoon Lekima hit China’s Zhejiang province, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Most of the victims died in Yongjia county, near the port city of Wenzhou, after a landslide caused by the rain made the river level rise 10m within 10 minutes, state-run news agency Xinhua said.

The landslide trapped 120 people in their homes, killing 23 with nine others reported missing.

State media footage showed rescuers wading in waist-high waters to evacuate people from engulfed houses in the hardest-hit areas.

Emergency crews worked to free people trapped in cars, and images showed the storm had brought down numerous trees.

Family saved in Ningbo City, China as Typhoon Lekima leaves villages flooded

Six others died elsewhere in Zhejiang province, three in Lin’an and three in Yueqing, the broadcaster CCTV reported.

More than a million people have been evacuated from their homes, including 253,000 in Shanghai.

Lekima caused at least 200 homes to collapse and damaged more than 173,000 hectares of crops and 34,000 homes in Zhejiang so far, with authorities putting losses at 14.57 billion yuan (£1.73bn), according to Xinhua.

Typhoon Lekima: Red alert issued as storm heads to China Show all 9 1 /9 Typhoon Lekima: Red alert issued as storm heads to China Typhoon Lekima: Red alert issued as storm heads to China Taizhou, China Waves hit a sea wall in front of buildings in Taizhou, China's eastern Zhejiang province. China issued a red alert for incoming Super Typhoon Lekima which is expected to batter the province early on August 10 with high winds and torrential rainfall. AFP/Getty Typhoon Lekima: Red alert issued as storm heads to China Manila, Philippines Workers carry plastic plants over flooded waters as heavy monsoon rains continue in Manila, Philippines. Classes and government offices in metro Manila have been suspended as heavy downpours continue to enhance the southwest monsoon while Typhoon Lekima, locally named Hanna, exits the country. AP Typhoon Lekima: Red alert issued as storm heads to China Taipei, Taiwan A man holds an umbrella against powerful gusts of wind generated by Typhoon Lekima in Taipei, Taiwan AP Typhoon Lekima: Red alert issued as storm heads to China Taizhou, China Waves hit a sea wall in front of buildings in Taizhou AFP/Getty Typhoon Lekima: Red alert issued as storm heads to China Taipei, Taiwan People cross a street during downpour and strong winds brought by Typhoon Lekima in Taipei EPA Typhoon Lekima: Red alert issued as storm heads to China Taipei, Taiwan People attempt to cross a street EPA Typhoon Lekima: Red alert issued as storm heads to China Taizhou, China Waves hit a sea wall in front of buildings in Taizhou, China's eastern Zhejiang province on August 9, 2019. - China issued a red alert for incoming Super Typhoon Lekima which is expected to batter eastern Zhejiang province early on August 10 with high winds and torrential rainfall. (Photo by - / AFP) / China OUT-/AFP/Getty Images - AFP/Getty Typhoon Lekima: Red alert issued as storm heads to China Taipei, Taiwan epa07763585 People cross a street during downpour and strong winds brought by Typhoon Lekima in Taipei, Taiwan, 09 August 2019. Authorities in Taiwan have ordered schools and markets to close on the day as Typhoon Lekima has cut power to thousands of homes forcing flight cancellations and the island's high-speed rail to suspend most of its services. Chinese authorities have also declared a red alert as the typhoon is due to make landfall in China's Zhejiang province on 10 August. EPA/RITCHIE B. TONGO RITCHIE B. TONGO EPA Typhoon Lekima: Red alert issued as storm heads to China Taizhou, China Waves hit a sea wall in front of buildings in Taizhou, China's eastern Zhejiang province on August 9, 2019. - China issued a red alert for incoming Super Typhoon Lekima which is expected to batter eastern Zhejiang province early on August 10 with high winds and torrential rainfall. (Photo by - / AFP) / China OUT-/AFP/Getty Images - AFP/Getty

Chinese state media said an estimated 2.7 million homes were without electricity after power lines were toppled by the high winds.

CCTV said some 3,200 airline flights in Shanghai, Hangzhou and other cities and some train services were cancelled. Authorities in Shanghai also shut down the high-speed magnetic levitation train to Pudong International Airport.

Shanghai Disneyland was closed, as were some popular tourist areas along the riverfront in the city’s historic Bund district.

Typhoon Lekima is slowly moving northwards and is expected to make a second landing on the coast of Shandong province late Sunday, although it has now been downgraded to a tropical storm.

The typhoon battered several small Japanese islands on Friday before moving to the north of Taiwan. The island called off classes and closed offices on Friday – with around 40,000 homes left without power.

Lekima was the ninth typhoon to hit China this year and the fourth typhoon in the western Pacific this week – with Typhoon Wipha having brought fierce gales and rain to China last weekend.

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China issued a red alert for the typhoon – the most serious alert in its four-tiered system.