Tornado rips roofing from Indonesian construction site, sends workers fleeing

Officials say there were no fatalities from the brief incident in Batam, but warn that unstable conditions can trigger further sudden storms

The short-lived wind vortex, described locally as a puting beliung, struck VME Process in Tanjung Sengkuang, Batu Ampar, at about 10am on Wednesday, damaging workers’ shelters and scattering construction materials across the site, according to Indonesian media reports.

Videos of the incident showed dark clouds over the facility before sheets of roofing and other light materials were lifted into the air, with workers in blue uniforms and safety helmets sprinting away from the falling debris.

Batu Ampar police chief Amru Abdullah said no one had been killed or injured, although MetroBatam, citing information from the field, reported that one worker had suffered a minor injury and received treatment from the company’s occupational safety team.

“There were no fatalities,” Amru was quoted as saying by iNews Batam on Wednesday.

Police officers remained at the site after the tornado subsided to keep people away from scattered materials that could still pose a danger.

The company and relevant authorities were still assessing material losses and clearing debris on Wednesday afternoon.

The incident was brief enough that it did not disrupt nearby traffic or wider public activity, according to Amru, who urged residents to reduce outdoor activity when the weather worsened and monitor official forecasts.