Five people were killed, and 33 others were injured due to a severe typhoon that struck Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province in southern China, on Saturday afternoon, according to local authorities. The typhoon hit the town of Chongluotan in the Baiyun district of the city around 3 PM local time. The weather station in Liangtian village, about 2.8 kilometers from the point of impact, recorded a maximum wind speed of 20.6 meters per second. An initial investigation by the provincial meteorological bureau concluded that the typhoon reached a strength level of three, which is two levels below the highest level of five, and it traveled approximately one kilometer.
Rescue teams from the city’s emergency management, meteorology, fire departments, water supply, and health services, along with local residents, were dispatched to the site immediately. By 10 PM, the search and rescue operations were mostly complete, and the injured were taken to the hospital. Authorities reported that 141 factory buildings were damaged, while no residential homes collapsed.
Meanwhile, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday that hailstones measuring more than 5 centimeters in diameter fell in the Guangzhou area. The agency stated: "Under the influence of convective clouds, a powerful typhoon occurred in the Guangzhou area, and large hailstones more than 5 centimeters in diameter fell." Videos circulating on social media showed hailstones and heavy rains, along with terrifying scenes of the typhoon that ravaged the area.
