Still hard for me to think that it would be terrifying. Maybe odd, intruging, interesting, but not terrifying.
A 13 year old might be scared and that fear would probably color her recollections. But my gut says that that detail is more than just a bit of hype.
No. She distinctly remembers that the majority of people thought it an omen. It was the "talk of the town" for a long time. Many, many were frightened.
At this time, she and those around her did not know about the Marian apparitions at Fatima.