Massive tornado rips through Chinese city, leaving at least six dead and 190 injured

Terrifying moment huge tornado rips through a Chinese city, leaving at least six people dead and 190 injured

  • A huge cyclone barrelled through the city of Kaiyuan in north-east China today
  • Video shows twister uprooting trees, shattering windows and flipping over cars
  • The twister struck the city at about 5:45pm local time and lasted for 15 minutes 

At least six people were killed and 190 others were injured after a massive tornado ripped through a city in north-east China today, authorities said.  

Dramatic footage shows the cyclone barrelling through the city centre of Kaiyuan, Liaoning province, uprooting trees, shattering windows and flipping over parked cars. 

Roofs of buildings were also torn off and several power lines were knocked down as the twister struck the city at about 5:45pm and lasted for 15 minutes, according to state media. 

Dramatic footage shows the cyclone barrelling through the city centre of Kaiyuan, Liaoning province, uprooting trees, shattering windows and flipping over parked cars

At least six people were killed and 190 others were injured after a massive tornado ripped through the city of Kaiyuan, north-east China’s Liaoning province today, authorities said

Search and rescue work has begun after the local emergency management department received a report that some were stuck under the ruins of factory buildings. 

The tornado had a peak wind speed of 23 meters per second (51 miles per hour) at about 5:50 pm, according to China’s National Meteorological Center.

Authorities also issued warnings for thunderstorms and hail. About 25 millimetres (0.9 inches) of rainfall was recorded in a 60-minute period during the storm.

Videos show one woman screaming as the tornado sends violent winds full of debris flying past her car. Buildings are also shown to be stripped of windows and cladding. 

The tornado had a peak wind speed of 23 meters per second (51 miles per hour) at about 5:50 pm, according to China’s National Meteorological Center

The tornado had a peak wind speed of 23 meters per second (51 miles per hour) at about 5:50 pm, according to China’s National Meteorological Center

Power outages were reported in the wider prefecture-level city of Tieling - home to 2.7 million people

Debris including glass, wood, tiles and branches can be seen swirling around dangerously in the air as residents run for cover

Debris including glass, wood, tiles and branches can be seen swirling around dangerously in the air as residents run for cover 

Debris including glass, wood, tiles and branches can be seen swirling around dangerously in the air as residents run for cover. 

Power outages were reported in the wider prefecture-level city of Tieling – home to 2.7 million people. 

Ambulances, firefighters and police have been dispatched for search and rescue efforts. 

Experts at the Liaoning provincial weather bureau are studying the cause of the tornado, which is a rare phenomenon in the region. 

Unlike hurricanes, tornadoes form spontaneously, are short-lived, and traverse a much smaller land mass by comparison. 

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