Severe Storms Hit Hubei Province
At least 11 people have died after severe thunderstorms swept through cities in central China’s Hubei province, according to state media reports.
Videos of a tornado have been shared online, showing the event from the neighboring cities of Ezhou and Huanggang.
Eyewitness Account
A student in Huanggang city described the experience to the BBC, initially thinking it was "just an ordinary thunderstorm" until he noticed "things started flying through the air outside" the dormitory window.
"A lot of students were cut by flying glass," he said. "It wasn't until everything had finally stopped that I realized I had just lived through a disaster."
Rarity and Impact
This tornado is a rare event for the region, which last recorded a tornado in 2021, according to state media.
The storms have caused damage to thousands of buildings and injured more than 300 residents, local authorities report. Rescue and relief operations have been launched in response to the disaster.
