China: Storms, tornado leave 98 dead

Death toll of the tornado and hailstorms in East China’s Jiangsu province has climbed to 98, local rescue headquarters said on Friday.

About 800 people were injured, it said.

Intense downpours, hailstorms and a tornado battered parts of Yancheng City close to the eastern coast of China at 2:30 pm on Thursday, destroying buildings, trees, vehicles and electricity poles.

Search for the people through the debris has been completed, said Zhou Xiang, head of the Jiangsu provincial fire corps on Friday.

Cleaning efforts are underway.