Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
Video Credit: CEN/@arnulfom
This is the moment a huge “very rare” whirlwind is seen in the sky over a Colombian city.
The startling scenes were recorded by onlookers in the city of Cucuta in the northeastern Colombian department of Norte de Santander in an incident described as “very rare”.
In the video, the tornado-like cloud, described in local media as a whirlwind, can be seen descending from the clouds above the city.
Other clips show the whirlwind after it appears to have reached the ground and local media report it affected the roofs of housing in the Los Canarios area of the city.
Video Credit: CEN/@arnulfom
The Secretary of Risk Management for the city, Felix Munoz, told local media: “We are surrounded by a mountain range and it is very rare for this type of phenomenon to touch down in the city.
“It’s normal that gales are seen, but not tornadoes because the mountains usually break the currents of air.”
Local authorities report nobody was injured in the incident.
The Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) said the friction of the air with the ground or the disruption of this because of small obstacles generates numerous whirlwinds, whose diameter could be only a few decimetres.
Video Credit: CEN/Javier Chaparro
An unnamed expert from the IDEAM reported in local media said that this phenomenon occurred in the area because of its orography, topography and geography, which generate a narrowing through which the air circulates.
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