This is the dramatic moment fierce winds from Typhoon Matmo ripped through a market, blowing a worker off a counter in southern China.

Footage shows a staff member standing on a concrete work surface while installing a plastic sheet to protect goods, when a sudden gust of wind hits, knocking her off balance in Guangdong province.

She falls to the ground as a colleague rushes to help her up. The two quickly flee as strong winds continue to tear through the area, sending products and debris flying on October 5.

Matmo made landfall in the region on Sunday, disrupting transport services, displacing an estimated 347,000 people, and raising concerns over potential flooding.

The National Meteorological Centre (NMC) said the storm, China's 21st typhoon of the year, intensified into a severe tropical system before striking the coast between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan around midday.

The freak weather, moving northwest at approximately 25 kph, brought maximum sustained winds of 151 kph.

Matmo is expected to weaken as it tracks inland towards Yunnan province and into northern Vietnam.