Downpours, hailstorms leave 4 dead in NW China

Four people died and over 150,000 have been affected as downpours and hailstorms lashed northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region over the weekend, local authorities said Monday.

Initial investigations showed rains and hail had damaged 110,000 hectares of farmland, inflicting direct economic losses of nearly 210 million yuan ($34.1 million), according to the regional civil affairs department.

The hail damaged almost 600 homes and killed over 200 sheep.

A county in neighboring Gansu Province was also battered by the hailstorms on Saturday. More than 30,000 people from nine townships in Huanxian County were affected, with the direct economic losses of about 55 million yuan.