29 die as China hit by tornado

A TORNADO and strong winds swept through southwestern China early yesterday, killing at least 29 people and injuring nearly 200, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said.

More than 70,000 people were relocated after torrential wind, rain and hail lashed the city of Chongqing overnight, the ministry said.

One person remained missing last night and 190 have been hurt, it said.

Thousands of buildings have been damaged in the hardest-hit counties of Liangping and Dianjiang, disaster relief officials said, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.