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10 Years Ago: Aurora Tornado Made Direct Hit On Southlands Mall

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Friday marks 10 years since an EF-1 rated tornado cut a 5.5 mile path through southeast Aurora, making a direct hit on the Southlands Mall. At least two people were injured, including a man who was swept off his front porch while trying to photograph the storm. He was found bleeding and unconscious in his front yard.

southlands mall tornado 2009
(credit: CBS)

Roughly 8,000 homes and businesses lost power for at least two hours.

southlands mall tornado 2009
(credit: CBS)
southlands mall tornado 2009
(credit: CBS)

Four other tornadoes also touched down that afternoon in the Denver metro area.

southlands mall tornado 2009
(credit: CBS)

CBS4 meteorologist Chris Spears lived near the path of the tornado at the time and watched the pickets of a fence get ripped off one by one in the high winds.

"It was scary," he said.

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