Typhoon Nepartak raged through China last week, leaving a devastating trail in its wake. Now, three Chinese officials have been fired for poorly handling the deadly storm.
According to state-run news agency Xinhua, which reported on the matter late Sunday, Huang Shiyang, deputy party chief and acting government head of Minqing County, along with two other low-ranking officials, were suspended from their duties.
Although the typhoon had weakened to a tropical storm by the time it made landfall July 9 on Fujian province in eastern China, the storm still proved powerful and deadly. Typhoon Nepartak killed at least 83 people.
The hurricane destroyed thousands of homes in the Fujian capital Fuzhou. The storm also caused economic losses of over 7.1 billion yuan ($1.06 million USD), Xinhua reported.
Minqing County, where all three officials are from, was hit the worst by the storm. It tallied the total death at 73 people, and reported electricity and telecommunication services were cut in 11 towns and townships.
The government of Fujian has set aside 170 million yuan to go toward relief efforts in the affected areas.
The region is currently in its typhoon season, as winds pick up strength over the warm waters. Taiwan was also badly hit; the massive storm took three lives and forced the evacuation of thousands more.
