Filipino lone fatality in New Zealand tornado

MANILA, Philippines—A 37-year-old Filipino was the lone fatality when a deadly tornado ripped across part of New Zealand’s largest city, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday.

Benedict Onofre Dacayan, a permanent resident of New Zealand and a father of two, was at the job site of his construction company, Fletcher Construction, in Albany, Auckland when the tornado struck the area, the Philippine honorary consul general in Auckland, Emilie Shi, said in a report.

Shi, who was in contact with Dacayan’s family, said the Filipino migrant worker would be interred in New Zealand.

The swirling dark-gray column of air and cloud cut a five-kilometer path across the Auckland suburb of Albany at mid-afternoon, tearing off roofing iron, flattening trees and tossing vehicles around. At least 20 people were injured.

The tornado began in Albany at around 3 p.m., and proceeded to Rosedale, Birkenhead and Beach Haven, upturning cars and sending debris into the air. Power was cut in the area after a power station was damaged.

The tornado first touched down in Albany and then passed through neighboring Birkenhead. Most of the serious damage was in Albany, where a shopping mall, a large hardware store and a supermarket were hit. Radio New Zealand reported that the roof of the Mega Center mall in Albany collapsed.

Tornados are not uncommon in New Zealand, particularly on the country’s North Island, where Auckland lies. But they tend to be smaller than those seen in the US Midwest. Auckland generally gets one or two tornadoes a year, according to New Zealand’s Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management.

New Zealand has been hit by several disasters in recent months, including a Feb. 22 earthquake that devastated the South Island city of Christchurch and killed at least 169 people. Tina G. Santos, Philippine Daily Inquirer; Associated Press