A deadly tornado occurrence ruined several villages in the Czech Republic, killing five people and leaving more than 150 others injured.
It happened on Thursday night. A ferocious storm blew off buildings in the south-eastern Breclav and Hodonin districts. Numerous trees were uprooted and cars overturned.
At least 219km/h (136 mph) wind speed was recorded. And the worst affected areas looked like a war zone.
“It’s living hell,” said South Moravia regional governor Jan Grolich. Furthermore, hailstones the size of a tennis ball were informed.
Some villages also suffered extensive damage along a 25km (15-mile) stretch of road heading from Breclav to Hodonin, to the northeast.
According to Mayor Pavel Trojan, in the village of Valtice, nearly every building had been damaged by a bombardment of hail.
The government said around 1,000 homes had been affected by the event. Besides, local authorities were working to provide accommodation to homeless people.
Michaela Bothová, a spokeswoman for the South Moravian rescue service, told Czech TV that several people had been hospitalised by medical services. Initial reports spoke of three deaths but Czech media later said the number had risen to five.
Rescue teams from across the country, as well as from neighbouring Austria and Slovakia, have been deployed.
Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who is in Brussels for an EU summit, described what had happened as an apocalypse.
Destruction Caused
The tornado destroyed at least a third of the houses in the village of Hrusky. Only 15% of buildings had been untouched, said deputy mayor Marek Babisz.
“The church is without the tower, the elementary school has no roof and insulation any more, only walls remained from what were houses,” he told Czech public radio.
Hailstones combined with a tornado struck the border town of Hodonin and damaged an old people’s home along with a local zoo.
Vineyards that came in the path of the tornado were also damaged.
This disastrous event caused severe traffic disruptions and power outages. Thus, blocking entire motorways and leaving more than 100,000 homes without electricity overnight.
Czech Interior Minister Jan Hamacek described the situation as very serious. He said that all available rescue units were being sent to the scene.
The minister, who has arrived in the disaster-hit region, said a state of emergency had been declared.
