59 Chinese soldiers washed away by Typhoon Longwang floods

China said 59 of its soldiers were washed away by raging floodwaters sparked by Typhoon Longwang, and the country's president calling for an all-out search, state media reported Tuesday.

The typhoon slammed into China's southeast coast late Sunday night. It was downgraded Monday afternoon to a tropical storm, but not before raining havoc on low-lying coastal areas.

The 59 soldiers, members of the China's paramilitary armed police in charge of domestic security, were in a training school barracks in Fujian province when the violent floods hit Monday night, state media said.

Two buildings at the school were washed away, the reports said. President Hu Jintao ordered that no efforts be spared to search for them, state newspapers reported, reports the AP. I.L.