Officials sacked for poor response to Typhoon Nepartak

FUZHOU -- Three officials were sacked for their inadequate response in coping with Typhoon Nepartak which has caused huge casualties and economic losses in East China's Fujian province.

As of Sunday afternoon, the typhoon has left 83 people dead and 19 missing in Fuzhou, the provincial capital, according to the city government.

Over 200,000 people from the city's five counties and districts were affected, with nearly 10,000 houses collapsed over the past week. The direct economic losses amounted to over 7.1 billion yuan ($1.1 billion).

Minqing County, one of the worst-hit regions, saw cutoff of electricity power and telecommunication services in its 11 towns and townships. One third of the county's population were affected. A total of 73 deaths and 17 missing were reported there.

As a result, Huang Shiyang, deputy Party chief and acting government head of Minqing county, Lin Yuanhui, Party chief of Bandong Town, and the town's deputy Party chief Zhan Qiaoying were suspended from their duties.

The provincial government has earmarked 170 million yuan in relief fund to the disaster-hit areas.

Typhoon Nepartak, the first to hit this year, made landfall in the province on July 9.