• Howick and Pakuranga Times

A “HORRENDOUS noise from the sky” marked the path of a Tornado that tore through Botany yesterday afternoon.

Janelle and Jaycee Handa say their fence was uprooted in the storm. Times photo Wayne Martin.

Roof tiles on up to 30 homes in the Botany Rd, Golfland Drive area were lifted as torrential rain and severe winds pounded the eastern suburbs from about 3.30pm.

Monteceito Pl teenager Shaun Kohlhase points to the twisted road sign as he talks of the storm.

“It was so loud. It was a horrendous noise from the sky. I’ve been in storms before but nothing that big. I couldn’t believe it.”

Janelle Handa, who’s lived in the street for five years, lost her back fence to the heavy winds.

“I was on the phone and I could see the fence start to wobble. Before I could put the phone down [the storm] picked up the fence and slammed it into the house.”

Heavy winds also ripped out plants bordering the family’s property.

Mrs Handa admits she was scared and says the situation could have been much worse.

“I think we’ve been really lucky that all we lost was tiles and a fence.”

Fire crews had to put tarpaulins over some roofs to cover gaping holes caused by the wind.

The Northern Region Fire Communications Centre says people were also injured in the violent storm.

“Apparently there has been a couple of injuries and ambulance staff have taken a couple of people to hospital,” says a fire spokesperson. “We’re not sure of further details as yet.”

Monteceito Pl resident Annie Tang says the close-knit community has been shocked by the afternoon weather assault.

“My house is okay but there was a big hole in the roof of my neighbour’s house.”

A number of people in the street are overseas owners and will be oblivious to the damage, she says.

“At the moment we don’t know what we can do other than knock on doors.”

The Botany tornado happened just hours after a similar storm in New Plymouth.

As the Times went to press there were reports of a third hitting Tauranga.