Albany tornado

UPDATE: We've just uploaded this from YouTube:






This is unbelievable. And here's a video shot from the carpark at the Albany Mega Centre:

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There's been a tornado on the North Shore, and there has been some major damage at Westfiekl Albany shopping centre - Stuff reports:

A tornado has struck Auckland, causing injuries and damage.

Early reports are that a shopping mall roof has collapsed and cars have been tossed aside. North Shore police confirmed there were "numerous injuries" caused by the tornado.

A North Shore police spokesman said emergency services were busy fielding calls from the public with reports of damage to homes and cars.

The spokesman said it was too early to say how many people had been hurt, but there were calls reporting ''numerous'' injured people.

Stay tuned; we'll update as soon as more details are available.

UPDATE: TV3 is reporting that there has been at least one fatality, and kindred blogger Barnsley Bill has posted the following on Facebook:

Barnsley Bill

No damage here and we are half a km to the mall but it sounds like every police, ambulance and fire vehicle has gone screaming past us in the last ten minutes

This doesn't sound good ...