Residents of a Pembroke condominium complex were reeling yesterday after a possible tornado tore through the area.

The Queen’s Cove Apartments in Fairylands, Pembroke, lost pieces of roof and power during Hurricane Humberto on Wednesday night.

Joan Terceira said that she remembered feeling “shock and horror” when the winds tore pieces off her roof and caused the ceiling above her living room to cave in.

Her daughter, Karon Wright, said: “We saw that the ceiling was giving in and we weren’t sure whether it was the window or the whole roof.

“We didn’t come into the living room, we just stood outside, and the whole lot came down and brought everything down with it.”

Ms Terceira explained that the ceiling closest to her patio, which was made of drywall, collapsed over almost half of her living room, destroying her television and a ceramic lamp.

Ms Terceira added: “We usually don’t get damage, but I guess there’s a first time for everything.”

Ms Wright said that they were later told that the damage was caused by a small tornado that was formed in the southwest and briefly moved past the buildings before collapsing.

She added that family members would help her mother through Hurricane Jerry, which is expected to hit next week, while she flew back to her home in Britain.

Ms Terceira said: “Fingers crossed it doesn’t rain too much until then, because there’s nothing to cover it.”

The Bermuda Weather Service could not confirm whether a tornado had formed during the storm.

A spokeswoman added that winds stronger than they had previously measured might have been responsible for the damages.

The United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states on its website that weak and brief tornadoes can be created during hurricanes and tropical storms.

Colin Young, 96, said that he was watching television on Wednesday night during the hurricane when he heard “an almighty crack”.

He added that it wasn’t until the next morning that he learnt that the roof of his third-floor patio had completely caved in.

He explained: “I hadn’t any idea what it was, but it sounded very metallic.

“I thought, ‘What is up on the roof besides air conditioner units?

Mr Young explained: “I was sure they can’t move those by the force of winds’.

“Little did I realise that the ‘almighty crack’ was the roof coming off the porch.”

Mr Young said that the force of the winds pushed water through his outside doors and soaked much of his furniture and floor.

Much of the tiling alongside the condominium complex had been torn off of the western side of the building.

He said: “By our position we knew that we were in for some trouble, but you can only prepare for so much.”