Storm kills 16, injures 46 in central China

Beijing_(dpa) _ A severe storm with wind speeds of more than 100 kilometres per hour left at least 16 dead and 46 seriously injured in central China's Henan province, a news report said Thursday.

The 50-minute storm on Wednesday evening uprooted trees, damaged homes, flattened crops, and cut water and electricity supplies in four counties in Henan's Shangqiu city, the semi-official China News Service said.

Torrential rain and hailstones worsened the damage caused by the strong winds, the agency said.

The 46 injured people were all treated at local hospitals while officials sent teams to assess the extent of the damage caused by the storm, it said.

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