Watch: Moment rare tornado lashes central Chinese cities The footage from Ezhou and Huanggang in Hubei province's central China is eerie, a mix of chaos and stillness that belies the destructive power at its core.
Videos show a tornado tearing through streets, ripping roofs off buildings, and sending debris flying. Eleven people have died, with more than 300 injured as authorities scramble to provide aid and relief.
This is not a typical weather event for the region, where tornadoes have been few and far between in recent years. State media notes that it has been nearly two decades since a similar disaster struck.