GUANGZHOU - A rare storm has left nine people dead and 272 injured in South China's Guangdong province, local government said on Thursday.

The thunderstorm and hail hit Dongguan city on Wednesday afternoon, with winds of up to 176.8 km per hour and maximum precipitation of 40.6 mm, said Deng Haoquan, a spokesman for the Dongguan city government.

This was the strongest tornado to hit Dongguan since its meteorological records began, according to Deng.

As of 10 am on Thursday, the storm had resulted in nine deaths and 158 hospitalizations, 11 of those in a critical condition.

The property losses are also being counted.