Eight people have died and one remains missing after rainstorms and tornadoes hit central China, according to the provincial Department of Emergency Management. The severe weather struck parts of Hubei province on Monday night, bringing strong winds and heavy rain.
In Huanggang, the easternmost city of Hubei, 173 people were injured and 269 were evacuated to hotels or relatives’ homes. The local government reported damage to rooftops, roads, trees, and farms.
Videos circulating on social media showed residents struggling to keep shop doors closed as umbrellas, chairs, and tree branches were blown across the streets. Meteorologists noted this was the first tornado to hit Hubei province in several years.
In the southern Guangxi region, hundreds were evacuated after heavy rains caused a dam to collapse. The Department of Emergency Management deployed more than 3,500 rescuers across the province to provide disaster relief.
Meteorologists have warned that China faces complex flood prevention challenges this year, with heavy rain, typhoons, flooding, and other geological disasters occurring nationwide.
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