Severe storm, damaging waterspout hits Auckland waterfront, New Zealand
Image credit: Emily Cordwell
A waterspout hit Auckland’s waterfront on August 12, 2019, causing severe damage.
The tornado caused many yachts at Westhaven Marina to lose their moorings, vehicles got swept into the ocean, one catamaran was overturned and a yacht was struck by lightning as the storm moved over the area.
In addition, a shipping container toppled onto a car, trapping the driver. He was hospitalized in a moderate condition.
Coastguard duty officer Hemi Manaena said the winds had led to significant damage to a huge number of recreational vessels at Westhaven, NZ Herald reports. “We’d like to reiterate that there’s a large amount of debris in the harbor,” Manaena said.
“Mariners should remain vigilant when navigating the area, especially around the Princes/Hobson Wharf area – a shipping container has fallen into the water there.”
Captain Andrew Hayton, who is the Harbourmaster mentioned that there was some minor damage to pontoons and wharves from North Head to the Harbour Bridge.
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