Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Killer Storm Lashes at China

Aired July 06, 2001 - 9:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: In Asia, a killer storm is lashing at China. Typhoon Utor killed more than 70 people this week. It has now been downgraded to a severe tropical storm.

But as CNN senior Asia correspondent Mike Chinoy reports, the system is still taking a toll.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Downtown Hong Kong as typhoon Utor slammed into the South China coast. Torrential rains and driving winds, bringing one of Asia's key financial and transport centers to a virtual halt. Banks, government offices, schools, courts, the stock exchange and most businesses were shut. Ferry, bus and train services came to a standstill. Hundreds of passengers were stranded as dozens of flights were delayed or canceled at Hong Kong International Airport.

Worst hit were the territory's rural areas bordering the sea, where whole neighborhoods were inundated, emergency teams evacuating some people from their homes.

The eye of the storm, with winds of over 100 kilometers an hour, came ashore just north of Hong Kong in the Chinese province of Guangdong. Local officials reported heavy damage there to roads, power lines, dams and farmland. Initial estimates of losses run into tens of millions of U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, landslides caused by Utor's rain and gales were being blamed for many of the more than 70 deaths reported in the northern Philippines, many roads in the area still blocked. And in Taiwan, where casualties were much lower, the storm disrupted transport and communication links.

In Hong Kong, too, a big cleanup lies ahead. But many here are breathing a sigh of relief, because it could have been much worse.

(on camera): Utor was originally projected to be potentially one of the biggest typhoons to hit this part of Asia in nearly 20 years. That turned out not to be the case, but the storm still packed a powerful enough punch to spread misery and destruction across thousands of miles.

Mike Chinoy, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE) TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com