Tornado Takes Auckland by Surprise

Albany’s Mega Centre was right in the path of the tornado which left many buildings severely damaged.

Cars and trees lie scattered in the carpark of the Albany MegaCentre after a tornado struck the area on May 3, in Auckland, New Zealand. Phil Walter/Getty Images

AUCKLAND, New Zealand—A tornado tore through suburbs in Auckland, New Zealand this afternoon leaving one person dead and more than twenty people injured.

Beginning in the suburb of Albany around 3 p.m., it left a trail of destruction and debris from Birkenhead through to Point Chevalier.

Albany’s Mega Centre was right in the path of the tornado which left many buildings severely damaged.

Shortly after the tornado struck, Lucy Zee posted on Twitter: “Albany mall has been evacuated. I’m shaking so bad. Roof collapsed. I thought I was gonna die,” according to One News.

Witnesses reported cars with people inside being tossed up in the air and trees being pulled out of the ground.

WeatherWatch Analyst Philip Duncan said that the tornado reached speeds of around 200 km per hour.