Tornado that hit South Auckland Freight Hub was ‘like a bomb going off’

Monday, 21 June 2021

Footage captured by a Papatoetoe resident shows items thrown into the air during a tornado in south Auckland.

The tornado that tore through the South Auckland Freight Hub in Wiri has been described as “like a massive bomb going off”.

The tornado sent containers toppling and killed diesel mechanic Janesh Prasad on Saturday.

Maritime Union national secretary Craig Harrison said he had spoken to two members who were there at the time, both of whom were left severely shaken.

“They just couldn’t believe how fast it hit, or how hard it hit, and then it just disappeared,” Harrison said.

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Janesh Prasad worked as a diesel mechanic for forklift business Stellar Machinery and was repairing equipment when the tragedy struck.

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Craig Harrison said the 40 foot (12 metre) containers weighted about six tonnes when they were empty.

“One of them said it was like a massive bomb going off, and then the next minute it’s back to normal. That’s how surreal it was for them.”

As news reports came in showing images of the destruction, Harrison said he had never seen anything like it, despite having worked in similar freight hubs himself.

“The images I’ve seen out at Wiri, I’ve never seen anything like that. That’s just unbelievable.

“To give you an idea of the force to move those containers, even the little 20 foot [6 metre] ones weigh about four tonnes.

Containers were toppled after the tornado in Wiri, which workers told their union was over in seconds.

“The 40 foot ones are about five and half to six tonnes empty, so you’re talking about a significant amount of force.”

Other images showed a container tank had been blown about, which would weigh about eight tonnes, Harrison said.

“You’re talking a significant amount of force to blow that around, and all the planning in the world, I don’t know how you go about stopping that.”

A thunderstorm warning had been in effect at the time of the unexpected tornado.

Prasad worked as a diesel mechanic for forklift business Stellar Machinery and was repairing equipment when the tragedy struck.

An image of the aftermath at the freight hub in Wiri on Saturday.

Smaller containers, which measure 20 feet (6 metres) could be expected to weigh about four tonnes, Craig Harrison said.

He reportedly died after being picked up by the wind and thrown into an object.

Harrison said normal procedure if Prasad was completing a repair would have him working in isolation, in an area restricted to other workers.

“They are heavy machines, so they probably would have known he was working in an area, and told not to go anywhere near it while he’s there.

“They are heavy machines with lots of blind spots.

“I’m not aware of anyone being close to him, that’s for sure.

“This one is just unbelievably tragic, and I feel sorry for the family and the workmates.”

Harrison said the Maritime Union had had workers at the hub for two years, and other than a few safe operating procedure breaches, he hadn’t heard any serious concerns about safety practices.

“It sounds like the thing was just so unusual, and the storm so intense, it didn’t last very long. It’s hard to know how you would plan for such an event.”

Harrison said the port would have been watching the weather, and would have reduced the height of container piles if winds were picking up.