At least 15 people died in a powerful storm and high winds that swept southwest China's Sichuan Province, Hong Kong's RTNK-3 radio station said Wednesday.

Torrential rains damaged around 10,000 buildings during the 16-hour storm.

More than 400 people have been killed in China this summer from landslides and floods caused by heavy rains. Damage has been estimated at $5 billion.