Apocalyptic Water Tornado Speeds Towards City Leaving Buildings in Ruins
The huge water spout headed towards George Town in Penang, Malaysia, forcing people to run for their lives from a nearby beach
Daily Mirror UK, 2 APR 2019.
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The waterspout was heading towards the city (Image: ERIC DE SMET)
Fifty buildings were damaged as the tornado hit land (Image: AsiaWire)
A huge water tornado was filmed spinning towards a city's high-rise buildings - forcing people to run for their lives from from the beach.
This incredible footage shot shows George Town, in Penang, Malaysia, where almost 200,000 people live.
The enormous waterspout is seen moving towards the high-rise buildings of the Tanjung Tokong suburb.
The clip shows the massive columnar vortex moving towards a beach.
Local media reports that at least 50 houses in the area were badly damaged, but the water dispersed just five minutes after reaching land.
It ripped off the roofs of some houses and fell several trees at about 1.35pm, a Penang Civil Defence Force spokesman told Channel News Asia.
He added that there were no injuries reported.
George Town resident Nona Khalid said she was waiting for her two grandchildren to return home from school when the storm suddenly hit and she saw the waterspout approaching her house.
The 75-year-old said: "The sound of the wind was deafening and I saw part of the roof of my house being flown away by the wind.
"It was very scary and took place for the first time in the 50 years I have been staying here."
Fried banana trader, 52-year-old Zaleha Mat Zain, said she managed to run to the mosque area and and saw her stall destroyed by the storm.
"I am thankful that I am safe. The materials for my business such as banana and tapioca were damaged by the storm."
She added that more than 10 other stalls were also destroyed by the storm.
Eyewitnesses say stalls were also destroyed (Image: AsiaWire)
Waterspouts have a five-part cycle starting with the formation of a dark spot on the water surface, then a spiral pattern.
This is followed by the formation of a spray ring and then the funnel, before finally disappearing.
Apocalyptic Water Tornado Speeds Across a Bay
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