Southern China braced for second battering by storms

Most parts of southern China should expect another round of downpours, thunderstorms and gusty winds, the country's weather forecaster said yesterday, with hailstorms also possible in several areas.

The National Meteorological Centre forecast that the storms, which could arrive as early as late last night, would be the most severe so far this year.

South China had already experienced four big storms this month, with the most serious witnessed last Tuesday and Wednesday, it said.

Nine people died and 272 were injured when a thunderstorm and hailstorm packing winds of up to 176.8km/h hit Dongguan on Wednesday afternoon.

The centre said storms will lash the Pearl River Delta and northern Guangdong, eastern Guizhou, southern Hunan and Jiangxi and northern Guangxi.

Moderate to heavy rain was expected in some southern coastal areas, with wind gusts reaching 70km/h. Some areas were also likely to see hailstorms, the centre said.