A heavy rainstorm which hit Shanghai, east China, Monday left seven people dead and over 20 others injured, local official sources said Tuesday morning.

With a maximum temperature of 37 degrees centigrade, the city was broiled by the scorching sun all the day. But a sudden thunderstorm came at about 6:00 p.m. and the city was bathed in torrent.

More than 180 buildings were collapsed during the heavy rainstorm which also tore down a tower crane and some tents at construction sites.

The death tolls and injuries were reported from Jiading, Minhang, Changning and Qingpu districts.

The rainstorm also caused power cut in some areas.

Meteorologists said that the disastrous weather was caused by an encounter of a cold current from the north and a warm current from the south, which resulted in a local hurricane.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2004)