At least 11 people have died after severe thunderstorms, including rare tornadoes, swept through cities in China's Hubei province. State media reported that the storms damaged thousands of buildings and injured more than 300 residents.
Videos circulating online show tornadoes impacting the neighboring cities of Ezhou and Huanggang. One student in Huanggang described the event, stating that they initially mistook the storm for an ordinary thunderstorm. "Things started flying through the air outside" the dormitory window, the student told the BBC, adding that "a lot of students were cut by flying glass."
Local authorities have initiated rescue and relief operations in response to the disaster. The region last recorded a tornado in 2021, according to state media, indicating that such an event is uncommon for the area.