Powerful Tornado kills 8, injures 2 in China

At least eight people have killed and two injured after the powerful Tornado has swept through Hainan Island in southern China.

The official Xinhua News Agency said the tornado struck Nada town in Danzhou city early Thursday morning.

Meteorological authorities warned residents to remain alert to the risk of floods and landslides.

A tornado in northeastern Liaoning province killed six and injured 190 people last month. A 2016 tornado and accompanying hailstorm killed 98 people in eastern China.

Earlier, tropical Storm Bailu hit China’s Fujian province on Sunday with maximum winds weakening to 90 kph (55 mph), the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

More than 48,000 people were evacuated before Typhoon Bailu made landfall in China early Sunday, China’s state media agency Xinhua reported.

Fourteen tourists were among those trapped after the landslide in Hualien County. About 450 people were evacuated around the island and 12,000 households were without power late Saturday afternoon.

Flood prevention official in the city of Zhangzhou, Xie Dongming said “we have prepared rescue teams and equipment in key areas — 356 technical teams, 297 construction squads, 141 rescue boats, and 75 rubber dinghies as well as materials such as life jackets and buoys.”

He further added that 9,926 fishing vessels were also moved before the typhoon hit eastern China’s Fujian Province with maximum sustained winds of 90 kph (56 mph).

Tropical storms and typhoons, which gather strength from the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea, hit Taiwan, China, Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam from June through November each year.

Tropical Storm Bailu brought heavy rain and winds up to 118 kilometers (73 miles) per hour as it crossed the southern half of the island.