Tornado destroys about 500 Florida homes

About 500 homes have been damaged or destroyed by a tornado in Palm Beach County, Florida, but no one was seriously hurt.

Some 21,000 people were without electricity, and heavy rain flooded streets and closed roads. There were reports of looting following the storm.

At least two articulated lorries were flipped upside down by the strong winds, and roofs were ripped off some large businesses.

“We were right in it,” said Tammy Goodwin, owner of the Coastal Massage Day Spa. “Pieces of the roof were flying off. A pole came down. There was a lot of damage, a lot of debris. Things were flying.”

Red Cross spokeswoman Laura Botting said two shelters had been opened.

Weather experts were surprised by the rapid development of the tornado.

“It caught us,” forecaster Bob Ebaugh said.