Two tornadoes strike central and eastern China killing 12 people and injuring 400 as 160mph winds leave trail of destruction

• Wind speeds reached 160 miles per hour in Wuhan, now known for links to the coronavirus outbreak in 2019
• Around 26,000 homes were left without power as winds uprooted homes, trees and electricity pylons 
• In Suzhou, near Shanghai, another tornado touched down, killing four and leaving one person missing 

Two tornadoes that struck central and eastern China have killed at least 12 people and injured more than 400, leaving a trail of destruction behind. 

Wind speeds reached 160 miles per hour in the central city of Wuhan, now known for its links to the coronavirus outbreak in 2019, on Friday evening. 

 Eight people were killed and more than 280 were injured. 

Vehicles were crushed by falling objects, trees uprooted, buildings partially destroyed and electricity pylons felled

Authorities added that 26,000 homes were left without power as the violent winds uprooted trees and electricity pylons, destroyed 30 homes and threw debris onto vehicles, crushing them.   

The tornado also damaged two construction cranes, one of which toppled onto the site below, causing significant damage.  

Elsewhere in the country, in Suzhou, near Shanghai, another tornado touched down, hitting wind speeds of 200 kilometres per hour (124 miles per hour). 

Four people were killed and one person is still missing, according to local authorities.  

Images show the devastation left behind, and also capture rescuers searching through building debris in Wuhan on Friday night, and workers clearing debris at a destroyed factory in Shengze 

A factory in Shengze was completely destroyed by the tornado, which touched down on Friday evening 

Workers returned to the scene after the danger had passed to try and minimise the damage and begin a cleanup operation 

The tornado also damaged two construction cranes, one of which toppled onto the site below, causing significant damage

Buildings and vehicles were destroyed by the strong winds, which threw debris into the air and landing on structures below

Images show the devastation left behind, and also capture rescuers searching through building debris in Wuhan on Friday night, and workers clearing debris at a destroyed factory in Shengze.  

Tornados are relatively common in the Jiangsu Province, in the south east of China with around seven to eight occurring each year on average in that part of the country.  

Images show the devastation left behind, and also capture rescuers searching through building debris in Wuhan on Friday

The damage caused in extensive, with trees uprooted and some buildings completely destroyed 

Thousands of people were left without power to their homes after the violent winds felled electricity pylons 

Vehicles were left destroyed after the tornadoes hit two parts of the country on Friday 

Wind speeds reached 160 miles per hour in Wuhan, now known for its links to the coronavirus outbreak in 2019

 Earlier this month, a violent windstorm resulted in the deaths of 11 people in Nantong, a town of 8 million people on the north bank of the Yangtze River, and close to Shanghai.  

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