A tornado hit Jiading District of Shanghai Monday afternoon, leaving nine people injured.

Witnesses said the 20-minute tornado came around 2:50 PM, sweeping away tiles of local houses and some equipment of the enterprises in Dongjie village of Huangdu Town.

Nine villagers were reported injured in the catastrophe, among whom one suffered fracture and the eight others received minor wounds.

The tornado caused malfunction in the local high-voltage network, which affected the power supply in some urban districts in Shanghai.

As of 8:00 PM, the broken electric wires are still being repaired and local officials have rushed to the site, directing rescue and relief operation.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2004)