Two tornadoes hit the central Chinese city of Wuhan and a town in eastern Jiangsu Province respectively, killing 12 people, injuring hundreds and destroying homes and property, local authorities said.

Eight people were reported dead in Wuhan in Hubei Province, with 280 others injured after the tornado slammed through the city's district of Caidian at 8:39 p.m., Wuhan's disaster response center said.

It toppled 27 houses and damaged 130 more, and destroyed two tower cranes and 8,000 square meters of construction site sheds, the center added.

Another swirling vortex struck the town of Shengze in Suzhou, Jiangsu, killing four people and injuring more than 100.

Officials said the winds damaged electricity facilities and toppled several factory buildings.