Trees are down and damage to property is reported. Video / NZ Herald / Supplied
A tornado has struck eastern parts of Auckland tonight, lifting roofs off homes and toppling trees - with one resident saying the twister had caused “massive damage” in the suburb of East Tamaki.
Authorities received more than 30 calls about damage from the tornado, which hit at about 9pm and which one Dannemora man said “ripped one of our wooden fences out of the ground, ripped downpipes and guttering off our house and picked up a BBQ and threw it across our section”.
Most of the calls for help were due to roofs lifting or being damaged, trees blown onto houses, and trees falling on powerlines, Fire and Emergency said shortly before 11pm.
A Civil Defence emergency centre has been activated tonight at the Howick Leisure Centre for anyone displaced by the tornado, which had cause “localised havoc”.
Sophie Corbett told the Herald the tornado struck while she was in a car.
Corbett and her friend had travelled back from Ohakune today, and were passing through East Tamaki about 9.30pm along Ti Irirangi Drive.
”We were just passing by Kellaway Drive reserve area when the tornado hit us. Strong swirling winds and flying tree debris hit us, lifting the car slightly and swerving us from side to side.”
Corbett said the terrifying experience lasted about 30 seconds.
Residents survey the damage after a tornado struck East Tamaki and nearby suburbs. Photo / Alanna Santoso
High winds have also struck in Halfmoon Bay, with a resident there reporting damage to his roof and outdoor patio.
Fire and Emergency has not received reports of anyone trapped or injured, but Urban Search and Rescue teams are on standby if required.
The reports of damage are all in the area from Golflands to East Tamaki, and include Tamaki Heights, Flatbush and Huntington Park, Fire and Emergency
Manpreet Braar, who lives on Chapel Rd in East Tamaki, said: “It started off with a big bang. [Our] dog kennel turned upside down.”
“Big trees are down, palm trees are down, my neighbour has one palm tree leaning on the house. Major blocks of roof tiles are down. Most of the houses are missing roof tiles.
“There are no fences remaining on the houses we can see.”
Still from video showing a tree destroyed by a tornado on Chapel Road East Tamaki 09 April 2023. Photo / Jatinder Sidhu
Another resident said there was “massive damage” from the tornado. Roofs had been blown off in the fierce wind and fences “blown away”, they said.
Civil Defence Duty Group Controller Mace Ward said Auckland Emergency Management had been receiving updates from emergency services since the first reports of a tornado just after 9pm, and taken a precautionary approach by opening a Civil Defence Centre.
“Whether this was a tornado or not, it appears that extremely strong and tornado-like winds have caused localised havoc across east Auckland this evening.
“Emergency services are responding to callouts for damage to homes and roofs – we don’t yet know how many people or properties are affected.”
The Civil Defence Centre was for anyone unable to stay with family or friends this evening.
“It is also important that Fire and Emergency crews are able to get to the area and carry out their work, so please stay away from the East Tamaki to Botany area,” Ward said.
MetService forecaster Hordur Thordarson told the Herald “quite a line of active showers went through there just now” with the potential to trigger a tornado.
Earlier today, MetService warned of wild weather, thunderstorms and the potential for tornados to strike parts of the North Island, including Auckland, tonight.
Severe thunderstorm watches are in place tonight for the Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua, with rain warnings for the South Island.
We’re hearing reports of tornado-like weather in East Tamaki tonight, causing damage to many homes. If your life is at risk, phone 111 immediately. We’re working with emergency services now to see if they need any further support from us.
— Auckland Emergency Management (AEM) (@AucklandCDEM) April 9, 2023
Damage to Erne Cres in East Tamaki after a tornado struck tonight. Photo / Alanna Santoso
