At least 15 were killed and 46 others were injured by a tornado that ravaged an east China county on Saturday, according to local civil affairs department.

The tornado began to lash Lingbi County of Anhui Province at 0:40 PM Saturday. Eight of the victims lost their lives on the spot when a township factory was flattened and pulled down by the powerful tornado, sources with the department said.

The overall loss remains unknown so far, but local governments are going all out to direct and carry out rescue work for the victimized people.

Also on Saturday, five migrant workers were killed and more injured at around 1:20 PM in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province as their work sheds collapsed in torrential rains and strong wind.?

(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2005)