Chinese students marooned in floods unleashed by Typhoon Saudel’s rains

BEIJING – China warned of flash floods in the south-eastern province of Fujian while heavy rain trapped teachers and students in a compound in eastern Zhejiang as storms from Typhoon Saudel lashed several regions, the state media said on Sept 3.More than 2,500 teachers and students were trapped in a school compound in the Zhejiang city of Wenzhou on Sept 2 after extreme rainfall caused flash floods in the low-lying area, state broadcaster CCTV said.The authorities used drones to airlift supplies of food and drinking water to those trapped.The typhoon made a third landfall in Fujian’s city of Zhangzhou on Sept 3, after regaining strength in the South China Sea.The storm, which brought heavy rainfall to the provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang, is forecast to move west over Guangdong, state broadcaster CCTV said.Heavy rainfall in Fujian and Guangdong is expected to last until Sept 4.Video images in the Fujian city of Fuding showed brown floodwaters submerged vehicles as they gushed along low-lying streets, sweeping up debris.The city halted work, industrial activities and classes from Sept 2. Schools in the cities of Zhangzhou and Quanzhou also shut. REUTERS