UPDATE 03/05/2011 11.23PM : News reports are now reporting one death not three. Prayers for all those involved.
- May 03, 2011 4:00PM
Tornado in New Zealand
Dramatic first footage of a tornado hitting Auckland.
Vision courtesy: Sky News
news.com.au3 May
2011
The aftermath
of the tornado in Albany, Auckland. Picture: Twitter/Rob Crawford Source: Supplied
The aftermath of the tornado in Albany, Auckland. Picture: Twitter/ Rob Crawford Source: Supplied
Cars and trees lie scattered in the
car park of the Albany MegaCentre. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images
- Tornado hits Auckland’s North Shore
- Two people reported dead
- See pictures of the devastation
- Watch the tornado tear through Albany
THREE New Zealanders are believed dead and 20 more injured after a tornado ripped
through Auckland’s northern suburbs, overturning cars and ripping the roof off a
shopping mall.
Police say the terrifying twister swept through the north suburbs of New
Zealand’s biggest city about 3pm (1pm AEST) today, travelling at speeds of over
200km/h.
A St John Ambulance spokeswoman has confirmed two people were
killed, while Radio New Zealand reported that a third person had
died.
About 20 more were being treated at the scene and nearby North
Shore Hospital. Three were believed to be in critical condition.
Police
say the tornado ripped part of the roof off the Albany Megacentre shopping mall
in the city’s north, flipping cars, uprooting trees and sending shoppers running
for safety.
The tornado left a 5km trail of debris as it moved south,
eventually dying out as it neared central Auckland.
“All we could see
was a big black cloud spinning above it and debris flying everywhere. We’re
above the mall so we’re OK, but the mall has been hit, we can see there’s part
of the roof missing and there are cars tossed about.”
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