The tornadoes struck parts of Heze, particularly affecting the counties of Dongming and Juancheng, during Friday afternoon. State-owned Xinhua news agency confirmed the casualties, with authorities reporting significant damage to infrastructure and agriculture.
Officials stated that 2,820 houses, 48 power supply lines, and over 4,000 hectares of crops were damaged in the disaster. Despite the devastation, communication, power, and water supplies have been restored, as reported by state media.
Tornadoes are relatively uncommon in China's eastern regions, which typically experience such weather phenomena more frequently in southern and coastal provinces like Guangdong and Jiangsu, according to China Weather News under the China Meteorological Administration.
Efforts are underway to assess and mitigate the aftermath of the tornadoes, with local authorities coordinating relief and recovery operations in the affected areas.
The tornadoes in Heze underscore the vulnerability to extreme weather events in China's eastern regions, prompting swift response measures to assist affected communities and restore essential services. (ILKHA)