Tornadoes rip through Wuhan and Suzhou

Devastating impact: Damaged vehicles and debris are pictured at a construction site after a tornado hit an economic zone in Wuhan, Hubei province. — AFP

WUHAN: Four people have been confirmed dead and 19 others injured after a tornado hit the city of Suzhou in east China’s Jiangsu province, according to local authorities.Previously, Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, reported six deaths and 218 others injured after the tornado tore through the city on Friday.

The Suzhou municipal bureau of emergency management said it has verified the casualties in Shengze town after an investigation yesterday.

A total of 84 households and 17 companies sustained damages in the disaster, which also caused power outages, the bureau added.

The tornado ripped through the Caidian district of Wuhan at on Friday, toppling some construction site sheds and snapping a large number of trees.

According to an initial investigation by authorities yesterday, houses of 27 households have collapsed, and those of 130 households were damaged.

The tornado blew down power lines, triggering a power outage that has affected 26,600 households in Wuhan. — Xinhua