Beijing , China ( CNN ) -- Chanthu , the third typhoon of the West Pacific season , slowed down Thursday as it made its way over land in southern China . As the tropical storm drenched a region already inundated by heavy rain and deadly flooding , its top winds slowed to 63 mph ( 101 kph ) . It had made landfall with winds above 70 mph at 1:45 p.m. in Wuchuan City in southern China 's Guangdong Province , the state-run Xinhua news agency said . The government ordered evacuations in severely affected areas , especially in ports , fishing farms on the sea , dilapidated housing and low-lying ground . It urged local governments to step up flood control efforts . No casualties have been reported so far . Torrential rains and flooding this year already have been the worst in a decade , claiming the lives of 701 people and leaving 347 missing , Xinhua said , citing government figures . Chanthu could drench some rain-swollen areas with another 20 inches of rain , said CNN meteorologist Jenny Harrison . As the storm moves by , an area of particular concern is the region along the Yangtze River , which already has experienced the worst flooding in 30 years . Floodgates on the Three Gorges Dam have been opened to control the flow , and pictures from the scene show huge volumes of water pouring from it . Throughout the country , floods have hit 27 provinces and municipalities , affecting 110 million people , according to Xinhua . It said more than 8 million people have been relocated . About 287,000 military personnel have been mobilized in anti-flood operations , and schools are being advised to do what they can to ensure students ' safety .
NEW : Typhoon is downgraded as it crosses over land . Chanthu is the third typhoon of the season . The storm is drenching a region already devastated by floods .