Tornado injures nine, flattens 40 homes

NEWS: Residents slept though Cyclone Yasi, but not this storm as it ripped through neighborhoods in less than fifteen minutes.

The aftermath of the Townsville tornado. Picture: Chisholm Scott Radford Source: Townsville Bulletin

A scene following the storm in Townsville. Picture courtesy Sky News. Source: Supplied

Scenes from the Townsville tornado. Picture: Daniel Bateman Source: Townsville Bulletin

FORTY homes are damaged and nine residents had to be treated for injuries, some suffering cuts and abrasions, after a mini-tornado packing 110km/hr winds tore through Townsville early today.

Two elderly residents in the hardest-hit suburbs of Vincent and Garbutt had to be taken to hospital for medical issues while a blackout cut power to 17,000 homes in the north Queensland city.

Widespread flooding is reported from Cairns to Yeppoon with heavy rain predicted for the rest of the day

One aerial image taken by the EMQ helicopter in Townsville revealed the scale of destruction; in scenes reminiscent of "tornado alley" in the United States, houses are completely blown apart, walls disintegrated, and a total of 25 homes were without roofs.

A picture taken from above Townsville after a mini tornado swept through on Tuesday. Picture: Department of Community Safety

Source: Supplied

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Tornado injures nine, flattens 40 homes