Sixteen people died and 46 others were seriously injured after a storm swept a city in central China's Henan Province, local publicity department said Thursday afternoon.

The storm, which began around 8 p.m. Wednesday and lasted 50 minutes, hit four counties in Shangqiu City, with winds of up to around 108 km per hour, a department official said.

Trees were uprooted and crushed houses, causing the casualties, he said. Water and electricity supplies were cut in many areas.

All the injured have been taken to hospital. Further details are unavailable.

(Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2009)