TORNADO DELAYS CARIBBEAN GAMES OPENING CEREMONY

A tornado has hit the venue for the XXI Central American and Caribbean Games in Puerto Rico, forcing a delay to the opening ceremony.

The twister slammed into the Olympic stadium in the western town of Mayaguez hours before the games were due to begin.

It tore down a lighting tower, smashing cars and injuring five people.

The start of the games – in which 31 nations are taking part – was rescheduled for Sunday.

The tornado swept in suddenly from the sea, battering the stadium with spouts of water.

“The wind was like something out of a movie,” said the president of the Games organising committee, Felipe Perez.

People who had already arrived at the stadium were evacuated.

Organisers considered moving the opening ceremony to a baseball stadium next door, but then decided to postpone it until Sunday in case of more severe weather.