State of emergency in tornado-hit Taranaki

Yahoo Xtra News Headline; says:
A state of emergency was declared in the New Plymouth district last night after a series of tornadoes ripped through the region. Police said during an electrical storm about seven tornadoes hit the region in Oakura, Egmont Village, Inglewood and the Waitara area about 5.30pm last night. A Taranaki Civil Defence spokesperson said the most serious damage was centred on Oakura where tornadoes had travelled right through the township. Up to 50 houses were damaged, with some sustaining damage of up to 70 to 80 percent. Many were uninhabitable, the spokesperson said.