mmg.com.au

A tornado ripped through the region on Thursday night, injuring 20 people and leaving some towns looking like a bomb has exploded.

The fierce storms hit areas around Euroa and Tamleugh about 5.30pm and the Murray River towns of Bundalong, Yarrawonga, Mulwala, Rutherglen, Koonoomoo and Cobram about 8pm.

At Tamleugh winds destroyed a home, ripped roofs from shearing and machinery sheds and pulled down trees.

The News yesterday spoke to Lyndon and Sharon Kubeil who told of their fear and the wind ripped the roof off their home, shattered all but one window in their home and upended their couch.

Neighbours Lex and Sandra Finlay were also assessing the extensive damage caused to their farm when it was hit by the fierce winds.

In the Murray River towns the damage was described by Moira Shire Mayor Brian Keenan as the worst he’d seen in four decades as a State Emergency Service and Coutry Fire Authority brigade leader.

He said several houses at Bundalong were destroyed and most others are damaged.

Twenty people were injured, with most treated at the Yarrawonga Hospital, while four with more serious injuries were flown to Melbourne.

State Control Centre forecaster Tony Bannister said tornadoes of such force were not unheard of but rare for Victoria.

He said initial reports suggested the tornado would have involved winds of between 180 and 250km/h.

■In today’s NewsLyndon and Sharon Kubeil and Lex and Sandra Finlay share their stories along with more stories about storm damage in Koonoomoo and Barooga.