Tornado! in Desamparados
Residents of the area known as San Rafael Abajo de Desamaparados and Aljuelita - south of San José - got a scare yesterday as metal roof panels went flying in the air following a tornado.

The string winds caused damage to at least 10 houses and several commercial outlets and knocked down power cables at around 4pm.

Fortunately there were no injuries or deaths reported.

"It was horrible, like an earthquake but triple. We first heard the uproar and then were left without a rood, the zinc panels were pulled off with a great force. It was impacting", Jeremy García, one of the affected, told the news media.

Elieth Montoya, another affected by the tornado, said "I ran like crazy from one side to the other, all of a sudden I had no roof. Never I have lived through anything like this".

San Rafael is only minutes from the Hipermas and is a heavily populate area south of dowbtown San José. Many were out on the street once the natural phenomenon passes, curious to see what had happened to their neighbours.

The Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (CNFL) was immediately on the scene to re-establish electrical power that affected areas of Hatillo to the west and San Sebastían to the east, all caused by the strong winds.

Residents say the phenomenon lasted about five minutes and destroyed everything in its path.

Many could not believe their eyes as they watched the funnel cloud form and headed their way.

The phenomenon also was responsible for the heavy downpour on the rest of San José.