Bunbury: Up to FIFTY children feared injured after a TORNADO rips through youth centre
- A tornado ripped through Bunbury, south of Perth
A tornado has ripped through a Western Australian town, sending two people to hospital and raising fears for dozens of children at a demolished youth centre.
Up to 50 children were at the Bunbury Police and Community Youth Center in Bunbury, about two hours south of Perth, when the storm hit on Friday afternoon.
Dramatic photos show the roof collapsed and part of a wall seriously damaged by the heavy winds.
At least six ambulances have been sent to the youth center and one woman in her 30s has so far been confirmed injured. She was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A man was also taken to hospital from Bunbury Regional Prison, which was in the tornado’s path.
Dozens of children were at the Bunbury Police and Community Youth Center when the storm hit on Friday afternoon
Dramatic images from the scene show the roof and part of a wall badly damaged by the fierce winds
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for the area at 4.27pm, forecasting thunderstorms with damaging winds and rainfall that could cause flash flooding.
“An injured prisoner has been taken to hospital after a number of accommodation blocks in the minimum security area of the prison were damaged,” a Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said.
“Staff secured the site and moved the minimum security inmates to other undamaged areas of the facility.”
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services first reported that a tornado struck Bunbury about 4 p.m.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for the area at 4.27pm, forecasting thunderstorms with damaging winds and rainfall that could cause flash flooding.
Nearby towns of Bridgetown, Bunbury, Collie, Manjimup, Harvey and Walpole are expected to be affected by the wild weather.
More to come