Storm kills 22, injures 117 in central China

BEIJING – A storm with gale-force winds killed 22 people and seriously injured 117 in central China, state media said today.

Heavy rain and winds of up to 67 miles per hour swept through Henan province Wednesday night, ripping up trees and sending them crashing into homes, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

Most of the victims were hit by falling houses or trees, and two were hit by lightning, Xinhua said.

The storm destroyed about 9,800 homes and cut water and electricity to more than 3 million people, it said.