At one o'clock, the signal vanished completely, and the internet went down worldwide.
Giant hailstones had smashed communication facilities and destroyed the infrastructure on the ground.
The disaster-relief air-raid shelters were packed with people, their generators struggling to power the air conditioning.
Just a few days prior, construction on all the local disaster-relief shelters had been completed. They were only open to the homeless and those living in condemned buildings.
Loudspeakers in cities everywhere blared, urging residents to reduce their electricity consumption and save power for the air conditioners.
Even so, large swaths of the country began to lose power, internet, and water.
Many people put on every thick piece of clothing they owned, piled on heavy blankets, and huddled together with their families in a single small room for warmth.
The Bai family stepped out of the villa. Heavy hailstones slammed against the protective shield, shattering on impact.
