Intensifying forces of nature: Townsville begins clean-up after freak storm and powerful ‘mini tornado’

March 21, 2012 – AUSTRALIA – SES crews and the Army will help the clean-up in Townsville after a freak storm ripped through the city, as the weather bureau warns of more heavy rain for the region. Residents have described terrifying ordeals of being forced to huddle in their hallways and bathrooms as the storm tore open their homes early this morning. Premier Anna Bligh and LNP leader Campbell Newman have flown into the city, putting election campaigning on hold as they assess the area. Ms Bligh has declared the region a disaster zone and says the storm was akin to a “mini-tornado,” packing winds of up to 130 kilometres per hour. About 60 properties have been badly damaged and some buildings have collapsed, with much of the devastation centred on a one-kilometre radius around the suburb of Vincent. Shane Fayers, his wife and their two children were forced to take shelter in their toilet as the storm destroyed the top floor of their two-storey home. “Front kitchen’s gone, living room, dining room and just the front porch that was all roofed that’s gone. It’s just smashed everything,” he said. Further down the street Tracy Thomas lost part of her roof and fence. Erin Matinca said, “The whole house was shaking. The whole upstairs was just shaking. The sound was quite horrifying. It was very scary, but it was all over in a matter of a minute or two minutes. It was just unbelievable,” she said. –ABC

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