51 dead, dozens injured in China extreme weather

Source: Xinhua | June 23, 2016, Thursday |

Online Edition

Program Code: 0909346160622018 Source: Miaopai

FIFTY-ONE people died and dozens were injured in extreme weather in east China's Jiangsu Province Thursday, local authorities confirmed.

Downpours, hailstorms and a tornado battered parts of Yancheng City at 2:30pm, destroying many houses, the city government said in a press release.

It said the extreme weather was reported in several townships of Funing and Sheyang counties in the suburbs of Yancheng.

Gales of 125km per hour battered several outer townships of Funing County, while in Sheyang, the winds reached 100km per hour.

Many houses collapsed in the gales, with 51 deaths reported and dozens of injuries as of 8:30pm.

Top officials of Yancheng City are leading rescue and relief efforts in the affected villages.

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