Roofs are torn off houses, trees fall and walls collapse in part of Greater Manchester during Storm Gerrit.
Image source, Tameside CorrespondentAround a hundred homes have been damaged after a “localised tornado” tore through the Tameside area of Greater Manchester.
Police declared a major incident at about 23:45 GMT on Wednesday “due to the severity of the damage caused and potential risk to public safety”.
The Millbrook and Carrbrook areas of Stalybridge were the worst affected by Storm Gerrit.
Rooves were torn off houses, trees were blown down and walls collapsed.
The force said there had been no reported injuries.
Image source, Tameside Correspondent
Fire and Ambulance crews and officials from Electricity North West and the council were also called to multiple sites across the borough, and a rest centre has been set up at Dukinfield Town Hall.
Greater Manchester Police said the damage had been caused “due to a localised tornado”.
Ch Supt Mark Dexter said: “This incident has undoubtedly affected numerous people in the Stalybridge area with many residents displaced from their properties during the night.
“Our highest priority is keeping people safe which is why we are advising those who have been displaced not to return or enter their properties which have significant damage until they have been assessed by structural engineers.”
Image source, Tameside Correspondent
He added: “I would also like to urge members of the public to avoid the area where possible and take extra care when travelling in vehicles on the roads in Stalybridge and the surrounding areas, due to debris in the road.
“This has understandably caused some disruption and, though we are not yet in a position to confirm when the area will return to normal, further updates will be communicated when we have them.”
Image source, Tameside Correspondent
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