A thunderstorm accompanied by hail hit south China's Guangdong Province Sunday claiming the lives of six people and causing damage worth 200 million yuan.
A bus traveling on the expressway linking Shantou and Shenzhen overturned and plunged into a pond by the roadside during the storm, killing two, injuring 39 and leaving five passengers missing.
The storm caused two major traffic accidents in Jiaoling County claiming two lives and injuring five.
The southwest area of the province received over 30 mm of rain, which poured down in a fresh gale. The thunderstorm has caused accidents affecting 150,000 people.
The meteorological station in the provincial capital of Guangzhou said that as the storm moves eastwards to the coastal area of the province Monday, its power will weaken.
Many flights through Baiyun Airport in Guangzhou have been delayed until the weather improves.
The storm in some way helped ease the spring drought in Guangdong. However, in the areas attacked by the hail and twisters, it has caused destruction. In Longmen County, 206 people were reported injured and 2,300 hectares of farmland were damaged. Thousands of houses collapsed, and power and telecommunications were cut out in Meizhou City.
The province has organized disaster relief forces to help victims repair residential houses.
(Xinhua 03/26/2001)
