11 killed, 66 hurt as storm hits China’s Yangtze River Delta
- More than 13,000 people affected in cities across Jiangsu province, Xinhua reports
- High winds also damage 1,700 hectares of crops and 6,000 houses
An extreme thunderstorm in east China left 11 people dead and 66 injured on the eve of the May Day holiday, while more than 3,000 were forced to evacuate, according to state media.
The cities of Nantong, Huaian, Taizhou and Suqian in Jiangsu province were among the worst hit as high winds and hailstorms swept through the Yangtze River Delta region on Friday evening, Xinhua reported, citing the provincial emergency management department.
Jiangsu party secretary Lou Qinjian ordered a search and rescue effort, the report said.
It said a fishing boat with 11 crew members capsized in the storm. Two of the crew were rescued and the search for the others was ongoing.
Wind speeds were recorded at up to 45.4 metres per second (102mph) at a monitoring site in Tongzhou Bay, and some areas reported hailstones with a diameter of up to 3cm (1.2 inches), Xinhua said.