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Thunderstorms spell disaster for Shandong
By Wang Xiantao (China Daily Shandong Bureau)
Updated: 2009-08-19 11:56

Jinan: Thunderstorms that struck Shandong on August 15 in four counties, including Pingyin, Sishui, Jiaxiang and Dong'e, have affected up to 142,300 people.

Close to 16,000 hectares of crops have been affected, 3,800 of them barren, according to the Shandong Provincial Civil Affairs Bureau.

The affected regions' governments and related departments launched emergency plans for relief after the disaster hit, with staff rushing to affected sites to immediately investigate the situation and initiate relief work.