Floods and landslides due to heavy downpours brought by typhoon Fanapi have claimed 33 lives in south China's Guangdong Province, while another 42 remain missing, local authorities said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, more than 1 million people were affected and 78,400 people in low-lying areas were forced to be evacuated, the provincial flood control headquarters said in a statement.

In addition, rainstorms and and geological disasters have destroyed more than 1,400 homes and inundated more than 30,000 hectares of cropland, the statement said.

Direct economic losses were estimated at about 2 billion yuan (US$300 million), it said.

Some areas in Guangdong reported precipitation of over 640 mm in 24 hours, it said.

Typhoon Fanapi, the 11th and strongest typhoon to hit China this year, landed in Fujian Province at 7:00 AM Monday, but wreaked most havoc in Guangdong, which neighbors Fujian on the south.

No casualties have been reported in Fujian.

(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2010)