Person dies after tornado rips through Ports of Auckland container yard

June 19, 2021
Containers toppled by a tornado at Ports of Auckland yard on Wiri Station Rd, Papatoetoe.

One person has died after the Ports of Auckland freight hub in Wiri was hit by a tornado this morning. 

Another person was rushed to Middlemore Hospital from the site in a moderate condition.

The people involved are not believed to be Ports of Auckland staff or linked to its subsidiary Conlinxx, which operates the site.

Several containers can be seen toppled, while there has been damage to infrastructure, with debris hanging over rail lines. 

"We are shocked by this freak event and our thoughts are with the people affected," Ports of Auckland said in a statement. 

The people involved are not believed to be Ports of Auckland staff or linked to its subsidiary Conlinxx, which operates the site.

The freight hub is said to have been "significantly damaged" in the incident. 

Police are continuing to make inquiries into the workplace incident, while WorkSafe confirmed it had been notified and was making inquiries of its own. 

St John was notified of 12 tornado-related incidents in Papatoetoe and Wiri this morning, with two patients taken to Middlemore Hospital in a moderate condition. Five patients in a minor condition were also assessed and treated.

"Multiple resources were sent to help those in need and support our partner agencies including seven ambulances, two rapid response units, three managers, one command unit and a major incident support team," St John Franklin Territory Manager Lindsay Sattler said.

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