Accessibility links

Breaking News

Deadly Tornado Strikes New Zealand's Largest City


A car in a mall parking garage is overturned in front of a large building after a tornado ripped through the suburb of Albany in Auckland May 3, 2011.
A car in a mall parking garage is overturned in front of a large building after a tornado ripped through the suburb of Albany in Auckland May 3, 2011.

Two people are reported dead from a tornado that struck parts of Auckland, New Zealand Tuesday.

Authorities say the storm had winds of 200 kilometers an hour, and left a trail of damage at least five kilometers long as it moved across Albany, a suburb of New Zealand's largest city. Dozens of cars were tossed about and flipped over, trees were uprooted, and the roof was torn off a major shopping mall.

As many as 20 people have reportedly been injured. The Auckland city council has activated its emergency center to coordinate the response and relief efforts.

New Zealand has sustained a number of disasters over the last several months, including a massive 6.3 magnitude earthquake in February, which killed 181 people and caused about $11 billion in damage.

XS
SM
MD
LG