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‘Tornado’ ripping roof off Tuas building was first ever recorded landspout in Singapore

Screenshot of landspout ripping a roof at a building in the Tuas area on 27 September 2019
Screenshot of landspout ripping a roof at a building in the Tuas area on 27 September 2019

SINGAPORE — A “tornado” ripping a roof off a building in the Tuas area on Friday (27 September) was the first ever recorded landspout in Singapore, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS).

A landspout is a weather phenomenon like a waterspout occurring over land.

The MSS said the rotating column of winds was due to the development of an intense thunderstorm under unstable atmospheric conditions, according to media reports.

"When the thunderstorm moved inland at around 11am, the moist air feeding into the intensifying storm resulted in a rotating column of winds over Gul Way around the Tuas area.”

A viral video of the landspout was shared on the All Singapore Stuff Facebook page, which shows debris flying upwards in a circular-like motion as several eyewitnesses in the background can be heard expressing shock and concern for their safety. A voice over the telecom was heard advising people to stay indoors.

A landspout usually lasts for several minutes, and weakens quickly when a thunderstorm matures or dissipates, the MSS said.

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