Four boats lost after NSW tornado

Updated January 05, 2012 23:40:44

Police say they have searched an area four times the size of Sydney Harbour after a reports of a mini tornado at a lake in central western New South Wales.

Tree branches and debris were strewn across the roads leading into Lake Burrendong, where a severe hailstorm swept through the area on Thursday afternoon.

Police, SES, volunteers and the rescue helicopter were called in to aid the search for four boats that failed to return to shore.

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Acting Inspector Richard Morley for the Orana Local Area Command says all of the boats have been found and no-one was injured.

But he says the lake can become treacherous fast.

"The water can become very, very rough very, very quickly," he said.

"It's just one of those bodies of water I wouldn't want to be on in a thunderstorm."

Topics: weather, disasters-and-accidents, mumbil-2820

First posted January 05, 2012 19:06:23

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-05/mini-tornado-hits-nsw-lake/3760350

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