China: Typhoon Conson leaves two dead, calms

Beijing: Typhoon Conson pummelled the south eastern Chinese island of Hainan, killing at least two people, uprooting trees and knocking down electricity pylons, local officials said on Saturday.
         
The authorities on the popular tourist island evacuated around 40,000 people from the most vulnerable areas before the storm hit on Friday evening.
        
Two men, a security guard and a motorcyclist, died after being struck by advertising hoardings unhinged by strong winds, an official from the local typhoon warning centre said.
       
Television images showed driving rain and powerful winds rocking the island, while residents also reported power outages.
        
The typhoon was later downgraded to a tropical storm as it headed towards northern Vietnam, according to China's national weather centre.
        
Typhoon Conson cut a deadly path through the Philippines earlier in the week leaving at least 53 people dead and dozens of other people missing.
        
Philippine air force helicopters and navy aircraft were Saturday still combing the seas southeast of Manila for around 43 missing fishermen and other sailors.