A tornado hit the city of Efremov in the Tula region on Wednesday afternoon, and a state of emergency was declared, according to the website of the region's governor, Vladimir Gruzdev.

“As a result of the disaster, roofs were severely damaged, glass was broken in many houses located in populated areas of the city, including the buildings of three schools and two kindergartens. In a matter of minutes, the hurricane knocked down a large number of electrical poles and trees, and cars were damaged,” the report notes.

According to preliminary information, 15 people were injured, including three children. Most of the victims suffered cuts from glass blown out by the wind. Their condition is assessed as mild to moderate, the report notes.

The press service of the regional Ministry of Internal Affairs previously reported that, according to preliminary data, four people went to the hospital. Squally winds damaged the roofs of more than 50 buildings, and more than 50 cars were damaged by fallen trees. The website of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Tula Region reports that among the buildings damaged by the wind are the buildings where the administration of the Efremovsky district and the chemical college are located. “The duration of the wind was 15-20 seconds,” the report notes.

In turn, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reports that, according to preliminary information, there were no injuries or deaths; wind gusts damaged the roofs of 75 residential buildings and five socially significant facilities. The Tula publication “Young Communard” reports that specialists from OJSC “Tulaoblgaz” identified damage to a gas pipeline in the area where the hurricane passed with gas escaping.

The head of the situation center of Roshydromet, Yuri Varakin, told Interfax that experts regard the phenomenon that occurred in Efremov as a “micro-tornado.” “This, of course, is not a tornado; we qualify this phenomenon as a “micro-tornado” - a phenomenon that quickly arises, lasts for a few minutes and goes away. If it had gotten into the forest, we might not have recorded it,” Varakin said. He explained that the phenomenon was caused by the passage of a thunderstorm front and a sharp temperature change.

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State of emergency introduced in Efremov after tornado