The strongest typhoon to hit southern China in four decades has killed 17 people after claiming at least 94 lives in the Philippines, officials said. Typhoon Rammasun was blamed for seven deaths and dozens of injuries after hitting Hainan island on Friday off China's southern coast, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Nine people died later in the Guangxi region as the storm plowed into the mainland on its way north to Vietnam. The typhoon is the strongest to hit southern China in 41 years, according to the China Meteorological Administration. Wind speeds reached 216 kms (130 miles) per hour, with the storm knocking down power lines and damaging buildings, Xinhua said. Authorities in southern China ordered the highest level of alert.