Tropical hurricane is approaching Shanghai - 18 dead

Lekima is the third largest tropical hurricane recorded in the country, according to the state-run Chinese television channel CCTV.

A total of 18 people are said to have died when the hurricane caused a landslide, which led to a dam collapsing north of the coastal city of Wenzhou, reports the Reuters news agency. The death toll was previously 13 people, but has risen during the day. 14 people are still missing after the collapse.

Early Saturday, the storm reached the mainland at the town of Wenling. During the day, it is expected along the coast towards the giant city of Shanghai. Over one million people have been forced to leave their homes due to the storm - just over 250,000 people in Shanghai and around 800,000 people in Zhejiang Province.

Heavy winds and heavy rain have been reported from Shanghai during early Saturday morning. However, the hurricane has been downgraded from having previously been called a superhurricane, according to the state news agency New China.

The authorities continue to warn of landslides and floods. Major power outages are also expected. Due to the severe hurricane, thousands of flights departed and hundreds of train departures were canceled, the BBC reports.

Earlier this week, the hurricane caused disruption in Taiwan. There, up to 900 millimeters of rain fell - corresponding to a Swedish annual rainfall - in connection with the weather.