The intensity of one the worst storms to sweep across the region in years uprooted trees and toppled power lines.

There were no immediate reports of deaths although at least three people perished in tornadoes and hail storms whipped up ahead of Imbudo's landfall in Guangdong province Wednesday.

"Today alone we have had several dozen injured people admitted to the hospital for treatment. They were injured because of the typhoon," a female doctor in the emergency department of the Yangjiang Hospital told AFP by telephone.

"It's less than 100, but many. Most are only slight wounds but some are serious with head injuries. There have been no deaths so far."

Another Yangjiang hospital, the Third People's Hospital, said only one patient had been admitted.

Government officials and state press said violent tornadoes associated with the typhoon wreaked havoc in Luoding city and Zhanjiang city Wednesday, tearing off roofs and overturning vehicles.

In Luoding, three people were killed and 13 injured, the Guangzhou Daily said.

Two of the dead were struck by lightening while the other was hit by a falling tree, a local official told AFP.

The twisters also caused extensive damage to buildings and livestock, including 6,000 chickens killed by hail.

As Imbudo approached across the South China Sea, thousands of people in Guangdong, home to 78 million people, were evacuated and power and water supplies cut as a precaution.

The storm has already ploughed its way through the Philippines, killing 21 people and ruining millions of dollars worth of crops, before brushing Hong Kong where 11 were hurt.

Xinhua said the storm made landfall in coastal areas of southern China from Dianbai to Yangxi at 10 am (0200 GMT).

Winds at the centre of the storm were force 12, the strongest under China's weather system, weather officials said.

The Guangdong Meterological Bureau said torrential rain pounded much of the coastal area while the Guangzhou International Airport said flights to Hong Kong and Sydney had been grounded.

Yangjiang, a city of 2.4 million people close to Yangxi, appears to have been one of the worst affected areas.

An official in the Yangjiang meteorological bureau said China's highest black warning had been hoisted, but winds were now subsiding.

"After landing, the typhoon has lessened," he said.

"I personally have seen many trees uprooted and electricity poles and cables blown down. It is the worst typhoon this year."

Chen Feichang, from the Yangjiang city civil affairs bureau, said schools and businesses were closed and thousands of people evacuated.

"We have evacuated thousands of people from danger areas," he said.

"The water supplies and electricity have been halted as a safety measure. There is no traffic on the streets, all the schools and businesses are closed.

"Everyone has been told to stay at home and even if they wanted to go out they wouldn't be able to walk because the winds are so strong."

The Philippines bore the brunt of Typhoon Imbudo with officials Thursday saying the death toll from the strongest typhoon to hit the archipelago in five years rose to 21.

Most of the dead were swept away by flash floods or crushed by landslides and fallen trees.

Hong Kong and southern China are regularly affected by typhoons in July and August although a direct hit is rare.

China has been hit particularly hard by natural disasters this year, with extensive flooding killing hundreds of people and leaving 3.5 million homeless.

Drought has blighted other parts of the vast country, affecting seven million people and causing billions of dollars in economic losses.

TERRA.WIRE