Tornados sweep through parts of New Zealand, damaging properties

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Dozens of properties were damaged when two tornados swept through parts of New Zealand for the second day on Monday.

A tornado swept through the Tasman district near Nelson City on the northern tip of South Island, according to Radio New Zealand, damaging around 50 properties.

It was the second tornado to have hit New Zealand around 16 hours after another tornado damaged properties in East Auckland last night.

New Zealand weather services agency recorded “extreme winds” that swept through East Auckland, uprooting trees and damaging at least 51 homes.

“No one had been reported as injured in the area though, and about 10 properties had to be yellow stickered as a result of last night's damage,” the report said.

Houses saw their roofs lifted or lost entirely while trees fell onto a car and onto power lines.

Electricity authorities were still working to repair damages in some areas.

Fire and Emergency Manager Blair Walklin said: “Our crews are currently busy in the area dealing with a range of weather-related events ranging from alarm activations to roofs lifting and houses flooded.

“Our crews are currently assisting members of the public and we ask people to adhere to any road closures and obey emergency service's instructions.”