Powerful tornado hits capital Managua, Nicaragua
5 homes were destroyed and 67 damaged after a powerful tornado ripped through Nicaragua's capital Managua on Thursday, September 17, 2020. At least 14 people sustained injuries.
The tornado struck at dawn and lasted approximately four minutes.
According to the Mayor's Office secretary-general, Fidel Moreno, 67 homes were damaged, 5 were destroyed and 14 people sustained minor injuries.
The homes suffered roof detachment and electrical damage, while at least 45 trees were knocked down, most of them collapsed on power lines and houses.
The Mayor's Office reported that the affected neighborhoods were Reparto España, Batahola Norte, Reparto Miraflores, and Monseñor Lezcano, which had the most damaged buildings, including a church.
AGRADECIDO | Pagrecito de la iglesia en Monseñor Lezcano agradece a las autoridades nicaragüenses, Alcaldía de Managua, Policía Nacional y Bomberos por hacerse presente esta madrugada y dar toda la atención ante el tornado que dejó cuantiosas pérdidas materiales. pic.twitter.com/D4wWgdHT0j
— Lenin Antonio Madrigal Juarez (@madrigal_juarez) September 18, 2020
Gobierno brinda acompañamiento a familias afectadas por tornado en Managua.
72 viviendas con afectaciones parciales o totales, 5 viviendas totalmente colapsadas #2021PatriaBenditaYLibre#UnidosEnVictorias pic.twitter.com/QCuVr9hFeY— RDRFSLN_ (@RDRFSLN_) September 17, 2020
Monseñor Lezcano resident Gilma Arroliga said the phenomenon sounded "like thousands of horses" racing as the storm ripped through homes.
Another resident named Manuel Espinoza, whose home was badly damaged, said the estimated losses amount to 3 000 dollars as the roof of his house was blown away.
"There were some great rumbles first, then a strong wind was felt," Espinoza described his experience. "I was scared, I got up and saw all that [debris] rising and everything collapsed."
Gobierno de #Nicaragua medinate la @managua_gob_ni y Juventud Sandinista envia ayuda para la reconstrucción de viviendas de familias afectadas la madrugada de hoy por un tornado en el Bo Monseñor Lezcano.#2021PatriaBenditaYLibre#ManaguaSandinista @taniasandinista @TPU19J pic.twitter.com/95NADnqbz8
— PLOMO1979 (@Plomo19792) September 17, 2020
Tornado afecta Barrios occidentales de Managua, 45 árboles caidos, 2 vivíendas severamente dañadas y unas 40 parcialmente en Monseñor Lezcano y Batahola Sur. Gran parte están sin energía… Fidel Moreno de la Alcaldia de Managua evalúa los daños por mandato de Daniel y Rosario. pic.twitter.com/OHZNQI4rGF
— Dennis Schwartz (@dennischwartz) September 17, 2020
Cuadrillas de la Alcaldía de Managua junto a pobladores realizan labores de limpieza en la zona afectada por el tornado que dejó escombros, láminas de zinc, árboles caídos, abundante lodo y daños a más de 70 viviendas de 4 Barrios del Distrito II.#2021PatriaBenditaYLibre pic.twitter.com/ybR7uzmKib
— Casimiro Sotelo (@CasimiroSotelo1) September 17, 2020
Police authorities closed the affected neighborhoods while workers conduct clearing operations. Authorities from the Mayor's Office and fire teams arrived at the scene to deliver relief items to the victims.
According to vice president Rosario Murillo, the twister was brought by a low-pressure system that hit the capital during the same day. The storm affected hundreds of houses in the capital.
Featured image credit: Archdiocese of Managua
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