Extreme weather has battered parts of China, killing at least 19 people and damaging property in provinces including Guangdong, Hunan and Fujian. The National meteorological center is warning more rainfall is likely in southern China.
Eight people were killed and 136 others injured as a hailstorm, packing fierce wind, hit the southern Chinese city of Dongguan in Guangdong Province. Local authorities say two of the wounded sustained serious injuries. The storm hit a local multi-school complex.
According to Su Chao, Vice Principal of Oriental Pearl College, "Five students were injured, including two middle school students and three high school students."
In east China’s Fujian Province, a heavy rainstorm capsized a ferry, killing 11 people. Four others are missing and a search is continuing.
Meanwhile, people in Jingzhou county of central Hunan province saw egg-sized hailstones falling Wednesday night. The storm lasted about 15 minutes, breaking car windows.
The storm has caused heavy losses. The government has sent a work team to help with relief work.