Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain - A heavy storm Tuesday unleashed its fury on the Spanish Canary Island of El Hierro, tearing off roofs, knocking phone booths over and hurling advertising billboards through the air, officials said. Wind gusts reached speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour, devastating mango and avocado fields and hothouses. A hotel was evacuated over roof damage, several roads were blocked, and many schools remained closed.
The authorities advised the island's 8,000 residents to stay indoors if possible. Electricity was, however, re-established after stormy weather left half of the island's inhabitants without power for 24 hours.
