The astonishing footage shows a river of hail blocking traffic and almost dragging vehicles along the road as stunned locals watched.

Smartphone footage shows several cars seemingly being carried by the 'river' after the extraordinary natural phenomenon swept through the city of Qingtian, in Zhejiang, eastern China on February 21.

Following the hailstorm, emergency services reportedly rushed to the scene to assist the stranded passersby and motorists and clear the debris from the flooded streets.

Chinese media revealed that the storm caused extensive damage to vehicles and infrastructure, leaving roads impassable and disrupting traffic for hours.

One local said: 'The roads have turned into conveyor belts.'

Authorities issued warnings urging residents to remain indoors as cleanup efforts proceeded in the aftermath of the event.

There were no reports of injuries at the time, said media.