GUANGZHOU, Sept. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Damrey, the No. 18 typhoon this year, has brought about heavy storm to Xuwen county of south China's Guangdong Province Monday, affecting 50 villages with a disaster-stricken population of 13,653.

    According to the county's typhoon control and prevention headquarters, typhoon Damrey landed Wanning City in eastern part of Hainan province at 4:00 Monday morning, with wind force exceeding 12 grades at the epicenter.

    The typhoon was approaching Xuwen county with wind force ranging between 9 and 12 grades, and has brought heavy rainstorms to the county.

    So far, the typhoon has damaged 2,533 houses and 6,666 hectaresof croplands, in addition to a number of dykes and dams, culverts and sluices. Further losses are being investigated, the source said.

    The provincial and local authorities have organized immediate prevention and rescue work. About 2,866 fishing boats and 13,000 fishermen have been evacuated to shelters in nearby ports and safer places. Enditem