Tornado alert sparks public terror

PEOPLE in Los Angeles were left terrified when they were told to lie flat in the nearest ditch as the city was about to be hit by a monster storm.

The California governor’s Office of Emergency Services mistakenly issued a tornado alert for LA on Saturday and warned “if no shelter is available, lie flat in the nearest ditch.”

“At 8.25am a large and extremely dangerous tornado was seven miles south of Glendale, near downtown Los Angeles,” said the alert.

“If you are in the path of this dangerous storm move indoors. Stay away from windows. If driving do not seek shelter under a highway overpass.”

The warning was like nothing ever heard by the people of LA, and conjured up images of the city being torn apart by high winds.

Shortly after the warning was issued, an advisory followed, stating simply: “Please disregard the previous tornado warning. No tornado exists.”

Staff at the Office of Emergency Services are trying to establish what caused the error.