Tornado Hits Eastern China: 5 Dead and Nearly 100 Injured in Shangdong Province

A powerful tornado struck the town of Caiyuan in Shangdong Province, eastern China, resulting in the deaths of five people and injuring nearly 100 others. The storm caused significant destruction, tearing roofs off houses and uprooting trees, with debris scattered throughout the air.

The Dongming County Emergency Management Bureau reported that severe convective weather caused the tornado. The local government has established a command center and launched emergency response operations. A total of 2,820 homes were damaged by the tornado.

Emergency services are currently conducting post-disaster disposal and on-site clean-up. Although tornadoes are relatively rare in China, with fewer than 100 occurring annually, they can still have a significant impact. Researchers have noted that tornadoes have claimed at least 1,772 lives in the country since 1961.

Earlier this year, a tornado struck the southern city of Guangzhou, resulting in the deaths of at least five people and injuring 33 others. The China Meteorological Administration recently released its annual ‘Blue Book’ on climate change, reporting that the country experienced its warmest year since 1901 and that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe.

Meanwhile, other parts of China are also facing extreme weather conditions. The north is experiencing a severe drought and record-breaking temperatures, while the south is dealing with heavy rainfall and flooding.