No one was injured this evening when a powerful whirlwind damaged part of the Mosta LIDL supermarket’s roof and a wall in the car park.

Several shoppers were in the premises when the whirlwind hit at around 7pm. One person told The Malta Independent that there was a sudden crashing noise and pieces of metal and plastic from the roof came crashing down on top of parked cars outside.

Pictures from the scene showed what seemed to be a destroyed water tank.

A brick wall was also blown over by the force of the wind, damaging some cars.

Eyewitnesses said shoppers were told by staff to drop everything and evacuate the building. Owners of vehicles that were damaged were asked to wait for instructions.

The whirlwind also caused damage to other properties in the Mosta-Naxxar area. TVM reported that a 100-foot wall had collapsed in Triq l-1 Novembru 1950.

In another incident a balcony was ripped off the wall and fell onto two cars below. Two people who were in one of the cars were uninjured.

Damage to vehicles was also reported in the Mosta industrial estate parking area.  There, a stone wall collapsed, burying several vehicles.

Several trees were damaged or uprooted. 

Photos: Michael Camilleri and Janette Cassar