This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-36607600

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
China tornado: Dozens die in Jiangsu province China weather: Tornado and hail kill scores in Jiangsu
(about 7 hours later)
A tornado has killed 51 people in eastern China and injured dozens more, state media say. A tornado and hailstorm have killed at least 78 people and injure nearly 500 in the east Chinese province of Jiangsu, according to state media.
Official news agency Xinhua reports that the tornado - accompanied by torrential rain and hailstorms - hit the province of Jiangsu on Thursday afternoon. Accompanied by torrential rain, the tornado struck the outskirts of the city of Yancheng on Thursday afternoon.
Homes in Yancheng city were flattened, it adds. Nearly 500 people were injured, 200 of them critically, and a number of homes were flattened.
Floods in parts of southern China killed 22 people earlier this week.Floods in parts of southern China killed 22 people earlier this week.
Video from the scene of the tornado shows injured children being transported on the backs of mopeds, overturned vehicles, snapped trees and street light poles, and toppled electricity pylons.Video from the scene of the tornado shows injured children being transported on the backs of mopeds, overturned vehicles, snapped trees and street light poles, and toppled electricity pylons.
"It was like the end of the world," local resident Xie Litian told state news agency Xinhua.
"I heard the gales and ran upstairs to shut the windows. I had hardly reached the top of the stairs when I heard a boom and saw the entire wall with the windows on it torn away."
President Xi Jinping ordered "all-out rescue efforts" to help those affected by the storms.
Many parts of China have been hit by torrential rains this week.Many parts of China have been hit by torrential rains this week.
The floods in southern China displaced nearly 200,000 people, state media said.The floods in southern China displaced nearly 200,000 people, state media said.
Direct economic losses from the floods are estimated to be 2.7bn yuan ($410m).Direct economic losses from the floods are estimated to be 2.7bn yuan ($410m).
China's vice premier Wang Yang has said that China faces volatile weather conditions as a result of the influence of El Nino on weather patterns. Vice-Premier Wang Yang said China faced volatile weather conditions as a result of the influence of El Nino on weather patterns.