Kumar Tells of Mini Tornado Experience

A man in Niudamu, Nakasi, recalled how he was lifted off the ground briefly. twisted around forcefully, followed by a violent hurl to the ground resulting in an injury.

Raj Kumar, 64, was on his porch at his home in Niudamu, Nakasi, on Saturday around 2pm, when he saw a rotating column of air approaching his home.

He quickly ran outside thinking to salvage his belongings but only to be caught up in the mist for what he said felt as long as 30 seconds.

He said before he ran out, he felt his home shaking profusely.

Nakasi residents Damyanti Kumar (left) and her husband Raj Kumar at their home in Nakasi after a freak tornado damaged their home on March 24, 2024. Photo: Leon Lord

The joint statement by the Fi-jiMet and the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) two situations can cause the damages that were reported namely:

• Microburst: A localised column of sinking air (downdraft) within a storm and usually less than or equal to 2.5 miles (about 4km) in diameter. Microbursts can cause extensive damage at the surface, an in some instances, can be lift-threatening.
• Tornadoes, on the other hand are violently rotating columns of air, extending from a thunder-storm, which are in contact with the ground.

All thunderstorms have the protential to produce tornadoes, but the type of storm that is most commonly tonadi is the supercell.

Supercells may produce strong, violent tornadoes, or several tor-nadoes over a period of several hours.

“We are closefly working with all relevant stakeholders to as-sess the impact of the situation on the ground and provide necessary assistance where necessary,” the statement said.

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