Chinese tornado, hailstorm death toll hits 99

Villagers clear off debris in Danping Village of Chenliang Township in Funing County of Yancheng City, East China's Jiangsu Province, June 25, 2016. Rain, hail and a tornado battered parts of Yancheng City on Thursday afternoon, destroying buildings, trees, vehicles and electricity poles. [Photo/Xinhua]

NANJING -- The death toll has climbed to 99 after a fierce tornado and storm hit East China's Jiangsu Province, leaving 846 others injured, local authorities said Sunday.

A powerful tornado and hailstorm pummelled the farmland and factories in Yancheng City, Jiangsu on Thursday, toppling houses, damaging wire poles and destroying a solar panel factory where hazardous chemicals had been stored.

The city government said in a press release that 1,591 homeless victims are staying in temporary shelters in two counties, and workers are rushing to repair electricity, water and telecommunication facilities.

Of the injured, 107 had been discharged from hospitals as of 4 p.m. Saturday, and 152 sustained serious injuries, said Wu Xiaodan, vice mayor of Yancheng City.

Zheng Yongguang with the China Meteorological Administration confirmed that an EF-4 tornado with a wind speed of 73 meters/second was responsible for the damage, citing radar data and their on-site investigation. EF-4 is the second strongest rating for tornados.

Zheng said cement ships hurled upside-down onto shore and twisted communication towers were seen, demonstrating the power of the tornado. A primary school teacher also recorded a video of a funnel cloud, a key tornado indicator, using a smartphone.