Guangzhou Tornado Strikes: Five Dead, 33 Injured in China
At least five people were killed and 33 injured after a tornado struck the Chinese city of Guangzhou on Saturday, state media reported.
Details of the Incident
China’s official Xinhua news agency said that the tornado hit the Guangdong Province capital, in the country’s south, around 3 p.m. (0700 GMT). The extreme weather was the latest to hit the country’s industrial heartland. Guangdong, China’s most populous province, is home to 127 million people and thousands of factories that power the nation’s export sector.
Impact on Factories and Infrastructure
Some 141 factories were damaged, though no houses had collapsed, Xinhua reported. Images published by state media showed dark skies in the middle of the day.
Previous Incidents and Weather Patterns
Earlier this week, torrential rains in Guangdong caused serious flooding, leaving four dead. According to state media, it was the worst flooding some parts of the province had seen since the 1950s. Tornados are not unusual in China. In September, 10 people were killed after a tornado struck Suqian, Jiangsu Province, in the country’s east. In 2021, two tornadoes struck the country in one day, killing 12, including eight in Wuhan.
Conclusion
Social media images showed damaged cars and uprooted trees. Our thoughts are with the affected individuals and communities during this challenging time.