Tornado Hits Turkish Town, Injuring 16 People (Photos)

A small tornado struck a town on Turkey’s Aegean coast, leaving a path of destruction and injuring 16 people, officials and reports said on Friday.

The violent storm hit the town of Cesme, some 56 miles (90km) west of the city of Izmir, flipping over cars, tearing up trees, ripping off roof tiles and toppling a crane. At least four boats capsized.

The worst-hit area was a building site for summer homes where the crane was brought down and a container housing the construction workers overturned.

Anadolu Agency reported that about 16 builders were hurt, including one who was taken to hospital with a broken leg.

"Cesme, a paradise on earth, experienced hell last night," Anadolu quoted the town's mayor, Ekrem Oran, as saying.

Powerful winds and hail also caused damage in the nearby town of Urla, destroying hundreds of commercial greenhouses.