While American cities started limping back to normalcy from around a week-long disaster created by Hurricane Irene, on the other side of the globe one more natural disaster -- Super-typhoon Nanmadol -- left at least 16 confirmed and many others feared dead after hitting the Philippines last weekend.

More than 60,000 people have been taken to safe places after the strongest storm to hit the country this year caused landslides and floods. All the dead were buried in landslides, the civil defense chief said on Monday.

Residents are evacuated on an excavator in Hengchu township of Pingtung county in southern Taiwan in this handout photograph taken August 28, 2011. Taiwan has issued a warning to residents of its southern and eastern regions as powerful typhoon Nanmadol approaches after hitting the northern Philippines. REUTERS

The missing are most likely dead but we are still searching for them, it is unlikely they are still alive after two or three days, civil defense chief Benito Ramos added.

Rescuers continue their search and rescue after the retaining wall of a dumpsite collapsed during the height of Typhoon Nanmadol, locally named Mina, struck Asin road in Baguio city, north of Manila August 28, 2011. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported on Sunday that at least seven people were killed including the four people at the collapsed dumpsite. REUTERS/Harley Palangchao

After hitting Philippines, Nanmadol headed to Taiwan where it drenched eastern and southern Taiwan killing at least one person.

Nanmadol downgraded from a typhoon on Monday and headed for China as its centre passed over Taiwan and moved towards southern China.

People struggle with their umbrellas against strong winds as Typhoon Nanmadol hits Taiwan in Taipei August 29, 2011. Typhoon Nanmadol made landfall in Taiwan early on Monday, bringing heavy rains and winds of around 35 metres per second and forcing evacuations in the island's south and east, but there were no immediate reports of serious damage. REUTERS/Pichi Chuang

In China, Vice Premier Hui Liangyu ordered local governments to take steps to limit damage from the storm, which is expected to hit Fujian province sometime during the morning on Tuesday, the China Meteorological Administration said on its Web site (www.cma.gov.cn).

Officials must inspect dams, road and railway embankments to ensure they can deal with the expected heavy rain, the official Xinhua news agency said. Some 2,000 boats have returned to harbor to ride out the storm.

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