Rare tornado hits Venice Italy

June 12, 2012 – ITALY – At around 11am today, a tornado hit Venice in Italy.  Initial reports indicate that trees were damaged; market stalls overturned and some buildings were damaged. No injuries have been reported. One of the worst hit areas was the Sant’Elena Island where an open air market was in progress. The tornado caused terrified shoppers to dash for cover. A water bus ticket office had its roof ripped off by the tornado which some reports stated was a waterspout. A number of boats were capsized. Around one hundred trees on Certosa Island were knocked down by the tornado and the outdoor dining area of the island’s restaurant was completely destroyed. On Sant’Erasmo Island, the roofs were removed from around a dozen houses, according to reports from emergency services in the area.  In the interests of safety, the cemetery on Sant’Erasmo island has been closed. –Italy Chronicles

contribution by Tracy V.