A hail hit Handan City in north China's Hebei Province Sunday, injuring 32 people and causing a blackout.

The 30-minute hail brought storm and egg-size hailstones to thecity around 4:00 p.m. Sunday. The city also suffered from a blackout after electricity lines being damaged by the hail.

Some 640,000 people were affected by the hail but the 32 injured are in stable condition by press time.

The hail also seriously damaged local houses, farmlands and trees and was estimated to cause losses amounting to 105 million yuan (12.7 million US dollars).

Officials from local governments have rushed to the site to coordinate rescue efforts and governments are now financing funds to help the hail-hit region.