Tornado tears roofs off 160 homes

A powerful tornado has swept through a commune of Hue and left almost 160 houses and a local primary school without roofs just 8 minutes after it first touched down.

The tornado, accompanied by severe gusts of wind surrounding the funnel, struck Phong Hoa Commune in Phong Dien District late in the afternoon June 12. Five hamlets - Niem, Thiem, Thuong, Bau and Trach Pho - are being reported to have sustained serious damage. Over 50 houses were left completely roofless following the massive storm.

The roof of Uu Diem Primary School was partially destroyed as well. No students were injured, as the tornado hit the building after school hours.

Five electrical poles were toppled and more than 20 tonnes of paddies are estimated to have been spoiled by the heavy rains; however, no injuries to people or livestock in these areas has been reported.

According to the most recent report of June 13, the Phong Dien District's People's Committee has approved a sizeable sum to be pulled from the district's budget to aid local residents with the restoration of their houses. About 100 households in total are struggling to cope with the aftermath of the tornado.