Wuhan tornado – Several missing and scores hurt as twister strikes Chinese city where Covid pandemic began

SEVERAL people are missing and scores have been injured after a tornado blasted Wuhan, in the Chinese Hubei Province.

At least 40 people have been injured and six are missing after the tornado struck Wuhan, the city where the Covid-19 pandemic began, at around 8:40pm.

None of the injured was in a life-threatening condition, reported Xinhua news agency.

Shocking footage shows scattered debris and panicked locals trying to save their belongings.

The local government in Wuhan said that the tornado snapped trees and toppled some construction site sheds, reports the agency.

Meanwhile, another tornado hit the city of Suzhou in China's Jiangsu Province, leaving one person dead and 21 injured, including two in serious condition.

The the city fire brigade said the winds damaged electricity facilities and toppled several factory buildings in Shengze town, the agency reported.

Extreme weather phenomena including tornadoes are not uncommon in China.

Back in 2016, a massive tornado, hailstorm and torrential rain left at least 98 people dead and 800 injured.

The deadly storm had flattened power lines, overturned cars and ripped roofs off houses in Jiangsu province.

Wuhan's Huanan market was identified as the site of the first coronavirus outbreak.

The market - where traders sold live mammals, reptiles and fish- was linked to initial outbreak of coronavirus in late 2019.

The outbreak sparked calls for wet markets to close worldwide.

The virus quickly spread around the world killing millions of people.

After a strict lockdown, Wuhan opened up again, while the rest of the world was still battling the virus.