‘TORNADO’ HITS WATERFRONT & TOPPLES CONTAINER
Wild winds that witnesses said looked like a tornado ripped through downtown Auckland late last night.
Emergency services were responding to a number of calls after high winds, rain and hail hit the waterfront area.
A container blew off a stack of containers at Ports of Auckland, hitting the side of a car at Jellicoe Wharf on Tinley St and trapping a person in the vehicle.
Emergency services worked to remove the victim, who was taken to Auckland City Hospital in a moderate condition.
There were also reports of boats — including the SeaLink ferry — coming off their moorings.
A sea plane and six cars reportedly fell into the sea. The cars were being pulled out by a tow-truck last night.
A witness described seeing a “tornado” hit lower Queen St.
“I was honestly too scared to open up the door because everything was just flying around,” said an NZME employee who lives on the Viaduct.
“Roofing is flying around and there are a lot of ambulances out there.”
Emily Cordwell said she saw what looked like a tornado rip through Auckland Harbour Bridge.
“We filmed the storm from our flat on Nelson Street. Suddenly it went dark and disappeared and sounded like a freight train coming through.”
MetService severe weather forecaster Allister Gorman said there were all the ingredients for a tornado in Auckland, but he could not confirm last night that one had hit the city centre.
“It could be severe gusts from the thunderstorm which happens when it collapses and all the air rushing out,” he said. “It can be strong enough to blow containers over.” — Emma Russell