NANJING, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Six people died and more than 20 were injured after stormy weather hit east China's Jiangsu Province Wednesday afternoon, local authorities said Thursday.

Strong gales swept Wuxi and Yancheng cities, with a maximum speed of 110 km per hour, tearing off roofs and damaging billboards and power facilities, according to the meteorological observatory of Yancheng City.

In Wuxi, a pedestrian was hit by a falling billboard and died.

Similar gale-triggered accidents left five people dead in Yancheng, including three in Funing County and two in Sheyang County.

More than 20 others suffered injuries in Funing County, which was hardest hit by the storm.

The local government has launched an emergency rescue.