A tornado hit a town in south China's Guangdong Province on Friday morning, injuring 21 people, including 17 children.

Zhenwen Town, Wuchuan City, was hit at about 8:00 a.m. The buildings of Ningwu Primary School and the surrounding residences were destroyed, said a local government spokesman.

The school dormitory was also heavily damaged, with most of its windows shattered.

The injured -- 17 pupils, three teachers and a local resident -- were mostly hurt by debris. They were hospitalized in stable condition.

(Xinhua News Agency June 6, 2008)