According to report of The Paper, the death toll of the tornado and hailstorm in Funing, Jiangsu has risen to 98 and 800 have been injured as reported by Shi Taifeng, Governor of Jiangsu Province, on June 24. Last night, the rescue team of Amity Foundation hurried to the disaster area and carried out research on the disaster and demand assessment and rescue.
Intense lightening, short strong downpours, hailstorms and a tornado battered parts of Yancheng City, including Funing and Sheyang at around 3pm on June 23, destroying buildings, houses, communication facilities and electricity poles, according to CCTV news.
The disaster relief headquarters said that there are enough supplies prepared by The Ministry of Civil Affairs and rescue efforts for the disaster area are on the way. Currently, the affected areas needs cleaning the most as noted by the new claims published at 2am today.
Besides these cleaning up operations and rescue efforts, psychological counseling for the affected victims is also underway.
The first three-person rescue team from Amity said that after the assessment of the condition, "As a non-governmental institution, we work to assist the government with the efforts. First we report to the disaster relief command of the county government and obey the arrangement of the local authority."
The team also claimed that Amity has activated its highest response system soon after the disaster evalution was done, considering the severe impacts of the disaster.
Meanwhile, the relief goods department of Amity has been starting its preparations for common rescue supplies and will deliver them on the evacuation and critical spots identified by the research.
Rev. Shi Li from the provincial CCC&TSPM called for the prayers for the church in Funing on WeChat.
He says that it is estimated that five churches in Funing have been damaged severely, one of whose roof has been blown upside down and there have been deaths and injuries among believers and their families.
Rev. Yue Qinghua, President of Fujian Theological Seminary and Rev. Chen Yilu, Vice President of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, published the intercessory prayer request on WeChat, saying, "A tornado attacked Funing, Jiangsu, resulting in serious damage. Pray for them and may the Lord help!"
