Environment Canada meteorologists are investigating to find out if a tornado that touched down in a small Saskatchewan community is responsible for flipping a trailer and injuring six people.
Residents in Spruce Home, about 35 kilometres north of Prince Albert, say strong winds toppled power lines and trees and damaged two local schools, which remained closed Wednesday.
No students were hurt, but six people suffered minor injuries when a trailer in the community flipped. Five of the injured were treated in hospital and released and a sixth person is listed in good condition, according to The Canadian Press, which reported the injured were likely employees of Vermette Wood Preservers Ltd.
The company's owner, Perry Vermette, told CTV Prince Albert he saw a funnel cloud heading towards his office.
"I said, 'Find a wall, because this thing's coming,' and as I said that the (trailer) behind us hit into the office, lifting the office right up and dropping it back down," he said. "The office is a write-off."
Environment Canada meteorologist Bob Cormier says he's not sure a tornado hit the trailer, but confirmed a twister did touch down at a nearby golf course. He said there was some property damage at the golf course, but there were no reports of injuries at that location.
The owner of Kachur's Golf Course said they'll have a lot of work to do cleaning up the aftermath of the twister.
"There must be 500 trees or more down throughout the course," Pat Kachur said.
CTV also showed amateur video taken by a viewer driving through the area Tuesday afternoon. It showed golf ball-sized hail pounding off the viewer's vehicle.
Local residents say the storm was the worst they've seen in years.
"It blew the greenhouse right across the yard," resident Cliff Davidson said. "It picked up a full 45 gallon water barrel and tossed it across the yard like it was empty."
With a report by CTV Saskatoon's Christina Heydanus and files from The Canadian Press
