Italian village recovers from earthquake struck by tornado
Residents of an Italian village struck by a deadly earthquake last year are cursing their luck after a tornado destroyed containers used for temporary offices, ripped off roofs and hurled caravans through the air.
By Tom Kington, Rome 1:37PM BST 05 May 2013
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The tornado, which lasted around an hour on Friday and was accompanied by tennis ball-sized hail stones, swept through the village of San Martino Spino and surrounding countryside. The village, in the region of Emilia Romagna, was shaken last May by tremors which left 26 dead and 45,000 homeless. Thirteen people were injured by flying debris and hailstones and 119 had their homes destroyed, while mayor Maino Benatti said it was "a miracle" no one was killed.
Houses damaged by the whirlwind in San Martino in Spino (EPA)
"This is like another earthquake," he said. Caravans used by families while their houses were being repaired after the earthquake were torn apart by the tornado.
"I had a caravan parked outside my house which was gone on Friday night – I found it 400 metres away," one local told Italian daily La Stampa.
What's left of the local football stadium. Photo: @FrancescoDondi
Roofs were torn from about 60 houses and a dozen containers brought in to house council offices after the quake were hurled 20 metres in the air, thudding to the ground around a sports centre where children had taken refuge during a football game, huddling in the changing room for safety.
Local factories were also damaged and farmer's group Coldiretti said damage to local agriculture would run to millions of euros.
The local church, which was damaged by the earthquakes last May, was further damaged by the tornado, said priest Father William Ballerini.
"Everything has been destroyed. The tent in which we have been holding services has vanished," he said.
"Something like this has not been seen around here in living memory," said Andrea Tolomelli, the mayor of nearby Argelato.
