A tornado tore through the Australian town of Ulladulla on Saturday, sending outdoor furniture flying and leaving residents shocked and frightened.
The tornado struck the town, located about 226km south of Sydney, shortly after midday as strong winds and heavy rain swept through residential areas.
Videos shared on social media showed the tornado moving through neighbourhoods as debris and outdoor furniture were blown around homes and yards.
Australia’s national broadcaster ABC reported that emergency crews received more than 12 calls linked to the storm, while fallen trees brought down power cables.
Local cafe owner Julius Machado said the storm arrived suddenly, forcing his business to close early so staff could begin cleaning up.
“We had to close early to clean up. All the glasses were broken, with plates and glasses scattered everywhere. It was a complete mess and very bad,” he told ABC.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology said tornadoes in such densely developed areas were extremely rare, with the storm causing damage to buildings and bringing down trees.
“It is very rare to see an event like this in an area with such a high population density. Buildings were damaged and trees were brought down,” the bureau said.
Tornadoes are relatively uncommon in Australia, with the Bureau of Meteorology recording around 50 such events each year.
The Ulladulla tornado came as parts of eastern and southern Australia were battered by severe storms and heavy rainfall.
In Sydney, the country’s largest city, torrential rain also caused flooding on several roads after intense downpours hit the city on Saturday afternoon.
