Port Macquarie battered by freak ‘mini-cyclone’ that teared down roofs and pulled up trees
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Rare ‘mini-cyclone’ tears apart popular regional town with winds of up to 120 km/h ripping roofs off buildings and uprooting trees
- The minicyclone struck shortly after 3 p.m. Friday.
- Residents ran for cover when the apartment’s roof collapsed
- More than 11,000 homes and businesses without power
A freak ‘mini-cyclone’ has battered a New South Wales coastal town with ferocious winds that downed power lines and trees while ripping roofs off buildings.
The intense storm hit the city of Port Macquarie, on the north coast of New South Wales, on Friday afternoon.
The NSW State of Emergency Service received 60 calls for help in the 30 minutes leading up to 4pm as the city was battered by strong winds, rain and hail.
Locals reported that the roofs of buildings were blown off, trees and power poles fell, while some requested flood rescue.
An intense storm described as a “mini-cyclone” hit the mid-northern New South Wales coastal town of Port Macquarie shortly after 3pm on Friday.
The city was hit by heavy rain, hail and strong winds, with gusts of up to 120 km/h.
Michael Ward, from the Port Macquarie, NSW SES unit, said the number of calls rose to 150 at 5:30pm, but no injuries were reported.
“There are definitely roofs outside the buildings, there is definitely significant damage to buildings in and around the Port Macquarie area,” Ward said.
The SES said restoring safe access around the city was its top priority before moving on to clearing access to homes and businesses.
Port Macquarie Hastings City Council released a message urging residents to avoid the city centre.
“While the scenes are dramatic and tragic, and many want to help, please stay away from Port Macquarie CBD and other damaged sites.
“We are closing or partially closing roads as necessary for safety and to allow emergency services to do their job.”
Huge trees in the city’s central business district were uprooted, shredding road surfaces and roofs blown away by wind gusts of up to 120 km per hour.
Strong winds uprooted huge trees, many falling on parked vehicles (pictured)
The roof of an apartment block on Hastings River Drive was ripped off (pictured), causing residents to run to their neighbors for cover.
Fire and Rescue NSW said powerful gusts ripped the roof off an apartment block on Hastings River Drive.
“Residents of the three top floor apartments ran downstairs to seek shelter with neighbours,” the Fire and Rescue NSW statement said.
“A tree crashed into a house on Hay Street, ripping off its roof, and firefighters rushed to help a damaged private hospital on Lake Road.”
Two large gum trees were also downed on Murray Street striking a truck and landing on a car, while a large tree on Hayward Street struck power lines as it fell.
More than 11,000 homes and businesses in and around the Port Macquarie CBD were without power.
NSW SES described the wild storm as a ‘min-cyclone’ and urged residents to move their cars away from trees, stay away from downed power lines and stay home unless travel is necessary.
Roofing materials were crushed and thrown across the city center by the wild storm (pictured)
Fire crews from neighboring suburbs have been called in to assist in the cleanup (pictured, debris scattered in the city center)
Debris has been scattered through streets in the city center with fire crews called in from neighbors Kempsey and Laurieton to help with the cleanup.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning of “damaging winds and large hail” for the mid-north coast, northern rivers and northern mesas on Friday afternoon.
Areas at risk included Port Macquarie, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Sawtell and Dorrigo.