Photo credite Xinhua News

By The South Asia Times

BEIJING -  At least 11 people were killed, 331 others injured, and one person remains missing after powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes and gale-force winds swept across parts of central China's Hubei Province, causing widespread destruction to homes and infrastructure, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.

The severe weather struck eastern Hubei on Monday night, affecting the cities of Huangshi, Huanggang, Ezhou and Xianning between 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. local time, according to provincial authorities.

Officials said the storms were accompanied by intense lightning, torrential rain and destructive winds. In two townships, wind speeds reached Level 13 on China's wind scale, equivalent to violent storm-force conditions capable of causing major structural damage. Some of the affected areas were also hit by tornadoes, further compounding the destruction.

Emergency officials said the violent weather destroyed 22 buildings and damaged another 4,855 structures, leaving neighborhoods littered with debris, uprooted trees and damaged power lines.

Authorities confirmed that 11 people lost their lives, while 331 residents sustained injuries of varying severity. Search-and-rescue teams were continuing efforts to locate one person who remained missing.

Provincial authorities have launched large-scale emergency response operations involving firefighters, police, medical teams and local government agencies. Rescue workers have been clearing debris, assisting injured residents and inspecting damaged buildings for structural safety.

Officials said efforts are also focused on preventing secondary disasters, including building collapses, flooding and other hazards that could arise in the aftermath of the storms.

Photographs released by Xinhua showed firefighters removing debris from heavily damaged residential buildings in Huangshi, while police officers directed traffic and diverted motorists around hazardous roads in Ezhou as cleanup operations continued.

The latest disaster comes as China enters its annual flood season, when intense rainfall and severe convective weather frequently affect large parts of the country. Meteorologists have warned that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including torrential rain, flash floods, heatwaves and tornadoes.

In recent years, China has invested heavily in strengthening its disaster warning systems and emergency response capabilities as increasingly volatile weather poses growing risks to densely populated urban areas and critical infrastructure.

Authorities have urged residents in the affected areas to remain alert for further severe weather while emergency crews continue relief and recovery operations.