Buncrana, Co Donegal, was hit yesterday by a mini tornado which lifted wooden hoardings more than 50ft in the air.
Two cars and two vans were damaged by flying debris.
Slates were torn off roofs and wooden facings torn from buildings when the tornado struck at 7.10pm yesterday evening.
Trees at Ardravan Square were totally flattened as the high-speed winds swirled around the shopping area.
The wind appeared during a heavy downpour.
Malin Head weather station said afterwards it was unaware of the freak weather incident.
Residents and shoppers alike were terrified as flying timber embedded itself in the rear of a car.
One observer commented they never saw anything like it in their life.
The tornado only lasted seconds, but left a trail of debris in its wake.
