At least eight people were killed and more than 100 others were
injured in rainstorms that hit parts of central China's Hubei
Province starting from last Saturday, sources from the
provincial civil affairs department said.
The victims were killed either by lightning strike, flood water
or collapsed houses.
A total of 18 counties in eight cities including Wuhan, the
provincial capital, were affected by the rainstorm and tornado, and
the direct economic losses totaled 200 million yuan (about US$24.1
million).
Yicheng City and Dongbao District of Jinmen City were hit by a
tornado at 7?PM last Saturday. Macheng and Tongcheng counties
had the serious rainfall which was monitored at 140 mm.
The rainstorm has raised the water level of the Yangtze River,
China's longest, which runs through most parts of Hubei. The water
level at the Wuhan section of the Yangtze River rose by 0.1 meters
to reach 22.72 meters on Monday. But, it is far below the warning
line.
However, an official with the flood control office of Wuhan City
called for active efforts be made to ward off a potential serious
flood on the river.
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(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2005)