A tornado has ripped through Sydney, with one weather station recording the fastest-ever wind speeds in the state of New South Wales. Destructive winds of 213 km/h hit Kurnell, on the southern headland of Botany Bay, Wednesday morning. Two people have been taken to hospital, one suffering head injuries and another suffering shock, a NSW Ambulance spokesperson told the BBC. A Kurnell resident told Sky News the storm sounded “like a freight train”. Authorities said it is lucky no one was seriously injured, but at least 25 properties have been severely damaged and some declared uninhabitable. The NSW State Emergency Service has responded to more than 500 calls for help and 11 flood rescues, including some people trapped inside their vehicles during flash flooding. About 180 children were forced to evacuate their classrooms in Kurnell. Sydney airport is still open, but the weather has caused delays.
