Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered the mobilization of all search and rescue units as well as military troops to find more survivors after a tornado hit the Chinese province of Jiangsu, killing 98 people and injuring 500 others on Thursday.

The official state-run news Xinhua said a powerful tornado coupled with heavy rains and hailstorms pounded parts of the Yangcheng city of Jiangsu province late in the afternoon, flattening thousands of homes and leaving hundreds of villagers trapped in the rubble.

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According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the death toll is expected to rise in the coming days as search and rescue units continue to look for more survivors and pull more bodies out of the rubble.

National Emergency

The disaster has been declared a national emergency, and Beijing has started sending tents and other emergency supplies to the affected province.

The civil affairs ministry said more than 500 people have been injured, 200 of which are in critical condition.

Xi, who is in on a state visit to Uzbekistan, has ordered Chinese government agencies to send a group to Jiangsu to conduct relief operations and expedite resettlement of the thousands of villagers who have lost their homes to the extreme weather condition.

Disaster response preparedness

He also ordered all agencies involved in relief work to take the necessary measures to reduce the number of casualties and facilitate the immediate evacuation of those who have become homeless.

According to state broadcaster CCTV, the ongoing search for the dead and survivors in the rubble is being hampered by the continuous rains and hailstorms.

Around 8 million people reside in Yangcheng city, according to the CCTV.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has likewise ordered hospitals to immediately treat the injured and prioritize those in critical condition.

Li said all necessary measures should be taken by the concerned government offices to normalize life and activities in the affected areas of Jiangsu.

He also reiterated the need for authorities to step up efforts in disaster response preparedness to minimize loss of lives. 

TagsJiangsu disaster, President Xi Jinping, Civil Affairs Ministry, tornado, hailstorms, search and rescue units, relief operations, china