Powerful tornado rips through Mangawhai, New Zealand

A powerful tornado swept through Mangawhai at around 03:00 local time (LT) on Sunday, January 26, leaving at least two people seriously injured and damaging approximately 50 homes. Officials anticipate further damage due to fallen trees.

The two injured individuals were sleeping on the second story of their home on Old Waipu Road when the tornado tore through, causing severe damage to the property.

“Our garage is punctured outwards, every window is pretty much shattered, glass littered everywhere, and our outdoor furniture is non-existent—it’s probably somewhere down the road,” said one of their neighbors.

Old Waipu Road and Moir Street in the Mangawhai village area were the worst affected, with several fallen trees and power lines caused by the tornado.

The Northland Fire and Emergency Department responded to numerous calls for assistance, particularly from residents in the Molesworth Drive and Old Waipu Road areas. Reports of wind damage also came from Langs Beach and Ruakaka.

Nearly 5 000 properties lost power in the Mangawhai, Mangawhai Heads, and Langs Beach areas overnight. Power has since been restored to all but approximately 250 households on Moir Street and Old Waipu Road.

References:

¹ Mangawhai tornado updates – Kaipara District – January 26, 2025

² Tornado tears through Mangawhai, homes damaged, power could be out for days – New Zealand Herald – January 26, 2025

Rishav Kothari

Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.

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