TIANJIN, July 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Farmlands in north China's Tianjin Municipality were hit by sudden hailstones on Wednesday evening which ruined most of the crops but no casualties were reported.

    Approximately 2,000 mu (one hectare equals 15 mu) of fields located in the Dabaizhuang Village of Baodi District were affected.Most of the cotton and corn in the fields were destroyed.

    Farmer Yang Huaiwen, 53, said the hailstones accompanied by rains and strong gales came at around 5:00 p.m. when he was returning home from the field.

    The hailstones, some as big as table tennis balls, smashed the crops and broke the roof tiles and window glass, said Yang.

    Sources from the Shanghai weather bureau said rainstorms and hailstones also raided Shanghai Municipality Thursday afternoon. So far, no casualties were reported. Enditem