December 28, 2022, 10:02 AM
December 28, 2022, 10:02 AM
The National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (Senamhi) reported this Wednesday that the ‘mini tornado’ that occurred yesterday Tuesday in El Alto had a diameter of 20 meters and reached winds of up to 40 kilometers per hour.
Ana Mendoza, a forecaster for the service, indicated that the natural phenomenon took place minutes before 6:00 p.m. and lasted less than 15 minutesin the middle of a thunderstorm that later became a hailstorm.
“A thunderstorm with rain was recorded starting at 6:00 p.m., which has caused the formation of a cloudiness called cumulonimbus and that has caused the column of air from that cloud to the surface of the earth, with moderate to strong winds, rotating, that has caused the mini tornado“, said.
The winds gave way to solid precipitation or hail. He said that the phenomenon was mild compared to tornadoes or hurricanes that occur in North Americawhere the winds reach 500 kilometers per hour.
Damage caused: (GAMEA photos)
“We have had these winds that have lasted a few minutes, due to the electrical storm, there was also precipitation of hail,” he said.
The El Alto Mayor’s Office began to quantify the damage, due to the fact that the ‘mini tornado’ knocked down walls and raised the roofs of several houses. ALikewise, it damaged the power line in a sector of Los Andes in District 5.
“The mini tornado crossed vacant lots where there were no buildings, although there are some residents affected, we are quantifying the damage,” said the Municipal Secretary of Water, Sanitation, Environmental Management and Risks, Gabriel Pari.