Guangzhou, China:
At least 18 people were killed and 118 injured after violent thunderstorms lashed parts of the China's southern industrial heartland of Guangdong province, the official state news agency Xinhua reported on Monday.
Emergency service officials said hail, rain and gale-force winds struck the province's capital, Guangzhou, along with the nearby cities of Foshan, Dongguan and Zhaoqing.
Victims were struck by falling objects and collapsing walls and work sheds, Xinhua News Agency said.
The region is home to much of China's crucial export manufacturing sector, although there was no immediate indication of serious damage to assembly lines.
As of late Sunday, the disasters have affected 506.7 hectares of farmland and caused about 50 million yuan (7.65 million US dollars) in direct economic losses, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The provincial government has dispatched a team to the disaster-affected areas to direct relief work, said the ministry.