A tornado struck Guangzhou, China, over the weekend, resulting in the deaths of at least five people and injuring 33 others, according to state media.
The tornado hit the capital of Guangdong province, an industrial hub in southern China, on Saturday. About 140 factories were damaged, but no homes collapsed.
Guangdong, China’s most populous province, has 127 million residents and thousands of factories that drive the country’s export sector.
Aerial images shared by Chinese state media showed significant devastation in parts of the city, with extensive damage visible in the hardest-hit areas.
Emergency responders and residents work together in the aftermath of the tornado in Guangzhou.Rescue efforts were launched by local emergency services, including weather, fire, waterworks, and health departments, as well as community volunteers. Xinhua reported that search and rescue operations in the area have been completed.
Earlier in the week, torrential rains led to severe flooding in Guangdong, claiming four lives. This was considered the worst flooding in some parts of the province since the 1950s.
Tornadoes are not uncommon in China. In 2023, Jiangsu experienced a deadly storm that killed 10 people following heavy rains linked to Typhoon Haikui. In 2021, two tornadoes struck the country on the same day, resulting in 12 deaths, including eight in Wuhan.