Super-rare tornado rips through 1,000-year-old temple

People ran for cover as the tornado slammed into the monastery.

This is the disturbing moment a tornado slammed into a monastery during a storm in Georgia.

Footage circulating on social media shows the towering column of swirling air and debris sweeping through the eastern Kakheti region.

Disaster struck on Tuesday metres away from the 11th century Eastern Orthodox Alaverdi Monastery in the Alazani Valley.

Georgia’s climate is not known for tornadoes, so people could barely believe their eyes when it happened.

A video shows the powerful winds forming into a towering tornado within a few minutes.

In another clip, people are seen rushing to take cover under a tunnel nearby the monastery.

Multiple trees were uprooted and a number of cars were overturned by the severe winds.

It is understood that the roofing and the dome of the Alaverdi Monastery was hit.

Jam News reported that the southern slope roof of the temple, the tin roof of the bell tower, and the tiled roof of the archbishop’s house suffered major damage.

Windows and the western dome of the temple were shattered.

Meanwhile, the balcony of the archbishop’s house collapsed, the cross fell from the cathedral’s dome, and the surrounding infrastructure was also damaged.

Fortunately, the tornado moved slowly, allowing people to reach safety, and there were no casualties.

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