BEIJING - The central government has initiated an emergency response plan on Friday to battle a severe hailstorm in Southwest China's Guizhou province.

The National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Civil Affairs have dispatched teams to help with relief work.

According to figures from provincial civil affairs authorities, about 421,900 people in the province have been affected by the hailstorm as of 12 am Friday.

Also, the disaster has left one dead, 99 injured, and 105,000 in want of immediate relocation or assistance.

Furthermore, the hailstorm has destroyed 4,010 households, leading to direct economic losses of 252 million yuan ($40 million).

The provincial financial and civil affairs authorities have channeled relief funds worth of 2.62 million yuan to the area, and sent relief materials, including 230 tents, 1,000 cotton quilts and 2,000 items of clothing to hailstorm-hit areas.