Picture used for illustrative purposes only.

An extreme thunderstorm hit an eastern Chinese city, leaving 11 dead and 102 injured, with strong winds causing buildings and trees to collapse.

Nine crew members from a fishing boat that capsized during the gale on Friday evening were still missing after two others were rescued.

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Strong winds pounded Nantong, a town of 8 million on the north bank of the Yangtze River, accompanied by hailstones the size of large marbles, according to the website Toutiao.com, according to AFP.

Wind speeds of 162 kilometres (100 miles) per hour overturned a fishing ship.

Those killed were hit by falling trees and electricity poles, or had been blown into the water by the wind, local authorities said on social media platform Weibo.

They added that 102 people were injured and many homes damaged, with over 3,000 residents evacuated.

Rescuers evacuated 3,050 people, a local government notice said.

Wind speeds of 162 kilometres (100 miles) per hour overturned a fishing ship. Two sailors were rescued and search operations were underway for the nine remaining crew, the notice said.

Electricity has been restored in Nantong, and collapsed trees, damaged vehicles as well as windows that have been blown away were being cleared.