TORNADO hits Marbella: Trees uprooted and tables ‘flying through the air’ as ‘frightening’ weather batters resort

A tornado transformed the sun-drenched Costa del Sol resort of Marbella yesterday.

The unusual weather phenomenon injured one person, uprooted trees and left engines on the ground as it emerged from the sea and hit the city centre.

Bar owners in the path of the storm watched in horror as tables and chairs flew through the air.

Marcela Romero, owner of the kiosk, said: “It was scary. I saw several trees fall in a matter of seconds and thought I was going to be lifted off my feet.

“It didn’t last more than a minute, but that minute was terrible because everything was moving.”

British holidaymaker Ryan Davis, who is currently on a golfing trip to the area with friends, added: “I’ve never seen anything like it.

“It started to rain and suddenly the wind came out of nowhere.

“Things were flying through the air. I hid in the nearest empty place, for fear that something would hit me.’

Clean-up operations continued this morning/yesterday morning (DUE) after the tornado scare around 4:30 p.m.

Marbella town hall said it had mobilized around 100 people and 30 vehicles “to restore normality”.

An initial assessment of the damage caused by the tornado put the number of trees affected at more than 40, including several cars parked on the street. Taken on December 5th

The weather phenomenon uprooted trees, knocked over cars and left motorbikes on the ground as it came in from the sea and hit the city centre.

The tornado swept through the Spanish seaside resort yesterday with wind speeds between 120 and 180 km/h

One of the hardest hit areas was the Costa del Sol Hospital just outside the city center where a worker required medical attention after a head injury.

Jesus Riesco, director of the Málaga center for weather agency Aemet, said the tornado could have reached an F1 intensity, classified as a moderate tornado with winds between 120 and 180 km/h.

He said: “This is a phenomenon that is impossible to predict,” adding: “They often appear in uninhabited areas or by the sea and often go unnoticed.

“The difference this time was that it ended up in Marbella.

An initial damage assessment put the number of trees affected at more than 40.

Several ended up on parked cars on the street.

Rain is forecast for most of next week in Costa del Sol resorts such as Marbella.

The change in weather after months of sunshine and blue skies was welcomed by locals and expatriates due to the drought.