In brief
In a rare weather event, a tornado swept across central China’s Hubei province, leaving at least 11 people dead and more than 300 injured. Video footage captured in neighboring cities Ezhou and Huanggang shows flying glass and debris. The storm damaged thousands of buildings and prompted swift rescue operations from local authorities. The last documented tornado in the region occurred in 2021, underscoring the unusual nature of this disaster.
Central China Inundated by Rare Tornado
A sudden tornado ripped through Hubei province in central China, the first such event in the region since 2021. Official figures from state media report at least 11 fatalities and over 300 injuries as the storm swept through the densely populated cities of Ezhou and Huanggang.
Videos that have circulated online show debris, shattered glass and buildings collapsing, all captured from the unrested city streets. A student in Huanggang told BBC reporters that he had thought the storm was ordinary until he saw “things start flying through the air outside” his dormitory window. He added that many students were “cut by flying glass,” detailing the sudden and deadly nature of the disaster.
Local authorities have launched comprehensive rescue and relief operations, aiming to extract trapped residents and provide medical care for the wounded. The damage to infrastructure is extensive, with thousands of buildings declared unsafe or destroyed and power outages reported across the region.
According to Chinese state media, the last recorded tornado in Hubei occurred in 2021, making this event exceptionally rare. Meteorologists warned that the weather pattern could potentially repeat, urging residents to keep an eye on national broadcast updates and heed emergency alerts.
For those interested in the live footage, the BBC provides a video link in the original report: Watch the Tornado Footage.
As the crisis continues, officials are calling for emergency supplies and volunteers to support affected communities. Citizens have been urged to unplug electrical appliances and avoid venture into flood-prone areas until further notice.