China allocates 50 mln yuan for thunderstorm-hit Hubei Province

BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- China's top economic planner has allocated 50 million yuan (about 7.34 million U.S. dollars) from the central budget to support emergency recovery efforts in Hubei Province, following severe convective weather that brought thunderstorms and gales to the region.

The funding, arranged by the National Development and Reform Commission, will be used to restore damaged infrastructure, including roads, as well as public service facilities such as schools, helping affected areas resume normal production and daily life as soon as possible.

According to local authorities, the severe convective weather struck eastern Hubei on Monday night, leaving 11 people dead and one person missing.

The thunderstorms and gale-force winds hit the cities of Huangshi, Huanggang, Ezhou and Xianning, while tornadoes were reported in some areas of Hubei.