A powerful tornado swept several islands off the Venetian coast, causing panic and heavy damage. There has so far been no calculation of the damage, reported Italy’s ANSA news agency.
On Tuesday, around 11 a.m. local time, the sky suddenly darkened and the wind picked up developing into a funnel cloud that swept over the island Santa'Elena off the eastern tip of Venice in the Venetian Lagoon.
The tornado caused a big scare for about 15 children, 9 to 10 years old who were at the Sant'Elena port for a sailing course, reported Venizia Today. In trying to flee the path of swirling funnel, the children hid in a container, which was subsequently set adrift. The entrance to the container also became blocked by fallen tree branches. The children were eventually rescued by firemen.
The tornado left in its wake churned up boats, fallen trees, and about a dozen homes roofless on Sant'Erasmus Island, which also in the lagoon. Civil protection crews and firefighters were called in to give assistence.
