Up to 26 people were killed and 100 injured when a tornado whipped through China's southern Guangdong province, state media and local officials said Wednesday.
More than 220,000 residents in the cities of Leizhou, Lianjiang, Zhanjiang and Suixi County were affected by the whirlwind that struck last weekend.
Sixteen people were confirmed dead and 10 remained missing, an official at the Zhanjiang Disaster Prevention Command Post told AFP.
"We have recovered 16 bodies and 10 are still missing," she said. "The rescue work is still going on and we haven't given up hope of finding them alive."
The paper said more than 50 boats sank during the disaster and 5,200 houses were destroyed.
The Guangdong provincial government has sent relief teams to the area and has promised new homes for those affected by the end of the month.
(People's Daily December 25, 2002)
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