Roofs torn off, trees uprooted as gales hit province in southwest China

Gales as severe as force 10 along with heavy rains have hit some areas in southwest China.

Roofs of factories and houses were torn off and trees with a diameter of up to 30cm were uprooted in parts of Sichuan province, the West China City Daily said.

The strong rains and winds also caused heavy losses for farmers, according to the report.

Crops such as corn, potatoes and rice were damaged, a village official in the Wanyuan area of Sichuan was quoted as saying.

Four killed as torrential rain, hailstorms lash province in southern China

The cabbage crop has also been waterlogged and will not be harvested, the official said.