Tornado Strikes China's Southwest, Killing at least 23

At least 23 people were killed and 161 injured today when a tornado struck China's southwestern Chongqing Municipality, damaging houses and crops.

Photo: Tornado Strikes China's Southwest, Killing at least 23

The tornado - followed by torrential rains, hail storms and high winds - hit Dianjiang and Liangping counties at around 2:00 am (2330 IST), state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

"At least 23 people died and 161 others were injured," it said quoting local government officials, according to reports in Press Trust of India.

The spell of bad weather from China has arrived to Russia's Far East where local authorities issued a storm warning and put all emergencies services on high alert.

"A storm warning has been issued due to strong winds with powerful gales of up to 18 meters per second. Ferry traffic between the mainland and the nearby islands has been suspended," a local official told RIA Novosti.