Rare tornado rips through Đông Hà City, Vietnam

A rare tornado swept through Vietnam's Đông Hà City on Saturday, March 18, 2017, blowing off roofs from several homes and buildings.

The tornado ripped through the city for some 10 minutes, causing notable infrastructural damage but there were no injuries reported.

Roofs were blown off from several homes and trees uprooted. According to authorities, the worst affected was Hung Vuong Primary School where at least 80% of the roof was blown off.

Local media reported there were 30 students at school when the tornado struck but they were all evacuated to a safe location. The school is expected to open and work normally on Monday, March 20.

Tornadoes in Vietnam are rare but not unheard of. On July 28, 2016, a powerful tornado swept through a town in Yeng Phong District of Bac Ninh Province, destroying everything in its path. 

An engineer working in the area said the tornado could be seen from 4 km (2.5 miles) away. "It broke many trees and utility poles and blew off many iron sheet roofs. When it was over, the entire residential area in Yen Trung commune was "a mess," he said.

Video courtesy Thanh Nien News NewsVietnam.org – July 2016

Video courtesy Đức Tôn – July 2016

Featured image: Damaged Hung Vuong Primary School after a tornado rips through Đông Hà City, Vietnam on March 18, 2017. Credit: VOV