Ireland

Mini-tornado hits Donegal town

listen

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.

Advertisement

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.

Audio & Video
RTÉ News 24 hours a day RTÉ News Special: The Humble Bee

LIVE TV

Now:
Dáil Éireann
14:30 Tuesday 9 February
Now:
Desperate Housewives
21:55 Tuesday 9 February
Now:
The Boys of St Columb's
22:15 Tuesday 9 February
Next:
Katherine Lynch's Single Ladies
22:50 Tuesday 9 February

Television Programmes

Radio Programmes

RTÉ.ie News Highlights

Grand Designs

A Limerick-based architect is bucking the recessionary trend as he creates dream homes all around the country

Read

Bogus Taxis

Philip Boucher-Hayes investigates the issue of bogus taxis on the streets and ranks of Dublin

Play

Hope Springs Eternal

After a difficult few years in the sheep industry, breeders say this year there is a new level of optimism

Play

Heading East

Thinking of heading to the Euro 2012 qualifiers? Listen to Morning Ireland's report

Play

RTÉ News iPhone App

Read and watch all the latest stories from RTÉ News with the new App for iPhones

Read