Tin roofs on the ground or twisted on vehicles, overturned trees, street furniture or remains of sidewalks in the middle of the street. A small tornado, accompanied by a hail storm, caused numerous material damages this Friday in the town of Cáceres, especially in the northern area, outside the Virgen del Puerto hospital, where the parking lots are located. The meteorological phenomenon, which lasted just three or four minutes, occurred between 4:20 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. There have been no personal injuries, according to the first information from the Placentine City Council.
Local and National Police officers, firefighters and civil protection crews have traveled to the affected areas. According to the first information, there has been damage and trees falling on the road in other areas of the city such as Ciudad Jardín or Dolores Ibárruri.
The tornado has especially affected the main parking lot of the Virgen del Puerto hospital, where it has torn roofs from the overhangs that protect vehicles, and has projected wood, stone debris and tree remains against parked cars. The first assessments indicate that there are more than 50 vehicles affected.
The building of the future juvenile center Cherrylocated in front of the hospital, has suffered the partial demolition of its main façade. The wind has uprooted numerous large trees that have blocked several roads and streets, making circulation difficult.
The Councilor for the Interior, David Dóniga, has indicated that the strong wind has caused material damage to dozens of vehicles, some of which have overturned, as well as private homes, especially in the Ciudad Jardín urbanization, where numerous solar panel installations and the roofs of warehouses in the industrial estate have blown up. The wall located between the cafeteria in front of the hospital and the entrance to the juvenile center has also collapsed and a metal structure has impacted against the hotel establishment itself.
Immediately, the Local Police have cut off access to the hospital from Ciudad Jardín – later reopened – while firefighters, together with municipal garden and maintenance brigades, Civil Protection and emergency personnel, have worked on removing fallen trees, metal structures and assessing damage.
The National Police and water and garden company services have also joined the work, and the mayor of Plasencia, Fernando Pizarro, has traveled to the affected areas to check the situation. The City Council has highlighted the coordination of all municipal services to restore normality and has assessed that, despite the intensity of the meteorological episode, no personal injuries have occurred.
