Three people were killed after strong winds blew them from their apartments in China

CNN
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Three people have died after tornado-like winds knocked them through their apartment windows in southern China, as severe weather battered the region over the past week.

Seven people have died in Jiangxi province since exceptionally strong winds began on Sunday, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Thursday. She added that more than 5,400 homes were damaged and 313,000 people were affected, and about 1,600 of them were evacuated to safe places.

The China Meteorological Administration issued an orange alert — the highest in a three-level warning system — on Tuesday, the first since 2013, according to the state-run Global Times newspaper.

Four dead and at least 10 injured were reported in Nanchang, the provincial capital, the worst-hit city, when severe thunderstorms and heavy rain hit on Sunday, according to China Central Television.

They included a woman in her 60s and her 11-year-old grandson, who were torn along with their mattresses from the windows of their apartment by strong winds, according to CCTV, citing media reports.

A 60-year-old woman from the same building was also swept out of a window by strong winds. State radio reported that the three had been confirmed dead.

One weather station picked up wind speeds exceeding the highest level of 12, which is equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane, according to state media, while 29 other stations detected Category 10 and 11 winds.

State media reported that air conditioners exploded in high-rise buildings in the city, while more than 2,000 trees fell.

China has been hit Series of Extreme weather events in recent years.

Last year was the hottest on record, as it faced severe heat waves that authorities said arrived early and were more widespread and intense than in previous years.

At the other end of the scale, the country recorded its lowest temperature on record last year on January 22, when Jintao town in northeastern Heilongjiang province recorded -53 degrees Celsius (-63.4 degrees Fahrenheit).