Image: Mike Giles - #Tornado pic from #Albany Mall on Twitpic
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1105/S00034/tornado-in-auckland-injuries-reported-building-damaged.htm
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Tornado in Auckland: injuries reported, building damaged |
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19:15 04-05-2010 North Shore Police say that fifty per cent of the Westfield Mall in Albany is now open for regular retail trading. Ninety per cent of the Albany Mega Centre is reported to be operating and functioning normally.
Most of the Northern sector of the Mall reopened about noon.
Significant damage was sustained to sectors of the Westfield Mall, Pak N Save, and other commercial locations as a result of the tornado that tore through the area yesterday. More>>
Recovery and cleanup work is still underway on the North Shore after yesterday’s tornado in the Albany area north of Auckland.
New Zealand Police report that all roads are open this morning; however, there is no access to the Albany Megacentre and Westfield mall car parks.
Vector report that all power has been restored to the area. More>>
There have been many injuries after a tornado struck Albany and nearby areas in Auckland this afternoon. There have been two confirmed deaths.
The Auckland Emergency Centre has been activated.
Buildings have also been seriously damaged, including serious damage to the Placemakers building.
An initial police press release stated "A tornado has hit the Albany Megacentre. We are receiving reports of a large amount of damage in the area and a lot of injuries."
The tornado reportedly moved in a straight line south from Albany before dying out near Pt Chevalier.
Auckland Council Statement: Tornado Hits North Shore
A tornado has severely affected the Albany Mega Centre on Auckland’s North Shore. The extreme weather event, which hit at approximately 3.15pm this afternoon, has caused damage to the buildings, including the mall, in the popular shopping area.
The Auckland Civil Defence Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) is activated to support emergency service operations and has started planning for accommodation if people require emergency accommodation.
Initial reports indicate significant damage to commercial properties in the area.
Emergency services are in attendance and there are reports of following casualties and fatalities:
• 2 fatalities • 14 injured
[Update: The death toll of the tornado stands at one. 37-year-old North Shore resident Benedict Dacayan was killed.]
YouTube Summary: "The Perceptive team a little rattled as a tornado rips past our office in Albany on Auckland's North Shore. Pardon the language!!"
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