Salvage crews have recovered nine bodies after raising 38 boats sunk during Typhoon Saomai off the city of Fuding in China's southeast coastal province of Fujian.

The recovery of the bodies brings the province's death toll from the typhoon to 246, including 209 people drowned at sea, said the provincial flood control bureau on Thursday.

It also said a total 134 people were missing in the province after the typhoon, including 130 lost at sea.

The city government has allocated 104.9 million yuan (US$13.2 million) for reconstruction of the devastated region and offered 5,000 yuan (US$625) compensation to each of the victim's families.

China's death toll from typhoon Saomai stands at 441, including193 in the eastern Zhejiang Province and two in Jiangxi Province.

The typhoon caused 952 vessels to sink and damaged 1,594 others at Shacheng harbor in Fuding.

Saomai, the eighth typhoon to strike China this year and the most powerful in 50 years, hit Cangnan County of Zhejiang Province on Aug. 10 before moving to Fuding.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2006)