Egg-size hail stones injure 32 in northern China, cause serious damage

BEIJING (AFP) Jun 21, 2004
Egg-size hail stones pounded China's northern city of Handan, injuring 32 people and causing serious damage to houses, farmland and trees, state media reported Monday.

The 30-minute hail storm on Sunday also caused a blackout in the city in Hebei province, the Xinhua news agency said.

It caused an estimated 105 million yuan (12.7 million US dollars) in damage and affected some 640,000 people.

The 32 people who were injured were in a stable condition, Xinhua said.

Officials were sent to the area to coordinate rescue efforts and the government was allocating funds to help the city, it said.

TERRA.WIRE