Three people have been killed and four others remain missing as typhoon Koppu slammed its way into south China's Guangdong Province, local authorities said Wednesday.

Three people in Chuanbu Township in Luoding City were killed and four others in Xinyi City were missing at 6:00 PM Wednesday, said a Guangdong Flooding and Drought Relief Headquarters news release.

The typhoon, the 15th this year, has brought heavy rains to the province. Although it relieved the lingering drought in north and east Guangdong, the rain was also causing disruption.

Houses in Yangchun, Xinyi and Luoding cities had been destroyed by typhoon-triggered landslides, the news release said.

At Gaolan Harbor in Zhuhai City, Agios Dimitrios 1, a Panama-registered cargo ship went aground in typhoon Koppu. Fifty tonnes of fuel oil reportedly spilt in the sea area.

According to Guangdong maritime authorities, as of 8:00 PM, the spill has been basically under control. Spill containment boom was used to prevent the floating fuel from spreading to nearby aquacultural areas.

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2009)