A powerful tornado has hit the city of Chongqing in south-western China, killing at least 23 people, BBC reported.
The state news agency Xinhua reported that at least 160 people had been injured, but the number of casualties was still being checked.
Rescue work is underway in Liangping and Dianjiang districts, Xinhua said.
It said crops had been destroyed and homes smashed when strong winds and heavy rain hit the two districts of the big Chongqing municipality before dawn.