Mini-tornado wreaks havoc in Townsville

SYDNEY: A devastating “mini-tornado” tore through the city of Townsville, ripping roofs off houses, snapping trees in half and injuring 13 people as wild weather pounded northern Australia.

The Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) said it received dozens of calls for help, with 13 people needing treatment, mostly for cuts and abrasions. Three were warded.

“Rapid Damage Assessments in the Towns ville area have recorded approximately 60 homes with varying degrees of roof damage,” the SES said, adding that at least six of the properties suffered significant structural damage.

Meteorologists, who said yesterday’s freak storm could not officially be called a tornado as there was no funnel, recorded winds of up to 111kph, leaving thousands of homes without power.

The weather bureau forecast further heavy rain.

One resident told Sky News that when the storm hit it sounded like “a jet taking off”. Another said it was like “being in a washing machine”. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, who faces being thrown out of office in state elections this weekend, said it was a frightening experience for the people affected.

“It appears to be something akin to a mini-tornado. It has taken roofs off houses and there’s a lot of vegetation down and that’s caused enormous damage,” she said.

She added that the suburbs of Vincent, Pimlico and Gulliver hadbeen affected, with heavy rain continuing to fall into the exposed interiors of roofless homes.