SHANGHAI, China - Tropical Storm Chanchu was the most severe typhoon to strike the South China Sea region during the month of May and already was blamed for 37 deaths and the destruction of thousands of homes in the Philippines last weekend. It was downgraded to a severe tropical storm after hitting the coast of China early Thursday. China said just over 1 million people have been moved to safety in Guangdong and Fujian provinces just to the north, a number that grew through the day. The storm bypassed the financial center of Hong Kong.