South Africa: Tornado hits Johannesburg commercial centre

The roof of a commercial centre has been blown off following a tornado in Johannesburg Tuesday evening which also damaged vehicles of some employees and affected a local hospital.

“I just saw a strong wind coming and a black cloud. And inside that black cloud we saw something, I can’t even explain it. If it a dragon or what, I can’t even explain it,” a security guard, Doctor Masasanya told AFP.

“As we held the doors. It was shaking. It really vibrated. At ones take there were four of us holding the doors. We just heard crashing. The ceiling came down. There was ripping. We just started praying. It was over in a minute,” an employee of the commercial centre described the incident. Security guards near the commercial centre say they protected ATM machines and guided those preset before the arrival of the police.

Some residents were injured by the tornado although the real number has not yet been ascertain.

Government social workers were later sent to the site to assess the damage caused.

Emergency services were on the scene for any eventuality.

According to the South African weather service the country could suffer from stormy winter weather this week.

Paramedics and rescue staff are working effortlessly, to determine if some people are further trapped in the rubble.