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Hailstorms affect 280,000 people in central China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-23 23:03

YICHANG - More than 7,000 homes were damaged and two people injured in hailstorms over the weekend in central China's Hubei Province. The storm, which started Saturday and ended Monday, dropped some hailstones that were "as big as eggs," according to the local government information office.

It affected 27 towns in the mountainous Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Hubei, affecting 280,000 people.

In the worst-hit Xianfeng County, hailstones knocked a 42-year-old woman unconscious and hurt a 17-year-old man's back. Both are reportedly recovered.

More than 7,200 homes had damaged roofs and broken windows. Three others collapsed in the prefecture. The storm also affected 10,832 hectares of crops, of which 1,302 hectares were destroyed.

Economic loss was estimated at 58.6 million yuan (US$8.6 million).