BEIJING: A tornado tore through Dongming county in eastern China on Friday killed one and injured 79 people, local authorities reported.
Images circulated on social media revealed extensive damage caused by the tornado, which struck during the afternoon in Shandong province, approximately 530 kilometers (330 miles) south of Beijing, according to the local emergency management bureau.
“The disaster claimed one life and left 79 individuals with various injuries,” the bureau stated.
Efforts are currently underway for rescue, relief, and cleanup operations.
Chinese media shared visuals of a large grey tornado moving swiftly and lifting debris into the air.
Videos posted on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, depicted roads littered with wood fragments and stones, storefront signs torn off, vehicles with shattered windows, and trees uprooted.
China has faced severe weather conditions in recent months, including heavy rainfall and intense heatwaves.
As the world’s top emitter of greenhouse gases, China’s contribution to climate change is believed to amplify the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, as noted by scientists.
