Rare Czech Republic tornado leaves three dead and 150 hurt in ‘apocalypse’ scenes – World News
A deadly tornado has ripped through parts of the Czech Republic, killing three people and leaving many nursing serious injuries.
It swept through several villages in the south-eastern part of the country in scenes described as “like an apocalypse”.
The intense storm blew off roofs from a number of buildings, with winds so strong trees were uprooted and cars flipped into the air.
The southern Breclav and Hodonin districts were worst hit by the tornado.
The situation has been described as “a living hell,” by regional governor Jan Grolich after visiting the area.
“We estimate the number of people to be injured at 100-150, ranging from children to senior citizens,” it was said.
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A Czech news agency CTK reported that the mayor of Hrusky said half of his village had been razed to the ground.
Rescue teams from across the country and as well as from neighbouring Austria and Slovakia were deployed to help deal with the crisis.
Prague, the capital, may have reached windspeeds above 200 miles per hour, a Czech Television meteorologist said.
That would make it the strongest in the modern history of the central European nation and its first tornado since 2018.
Tennis ball-sized hail caused significant damage to the area.
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A spokesperson for the South Moravia region’s ambulance service told Czech Television three people died in the storms and many were treated for injuries.
Czech TV reported as many as seven towns were “massively” damaged.
Antonin Tesarik, the director of Hodonin’s hospital, estimated that more than 200 injured people have been treated.
“It was an apocalypse,” he told local news.
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“There was blood everywhere and helpless people in tears. They saved their lives and lost the roofs over their heads.”
A retirement home and local zoo were also destroyed.
On Twitter, the Czech interior minister Jan Hamacek, said: “All available rescue units are in action or moving to the Hodonin region where several municipalities have been hit by a tornado.”
The freak tornado also caused extensive power outages, leaving more than 120,000 households without electricity.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Traffic disruptions were also reported as fallen trees and power lines blocked major motorways.
The highway connecting Prague with Bratislava, the Slovakian capital, was also jammed.
Drones and helicopters are being used to search the rubble, police said.
It comes after It follows another fierce storm in Poland on Thursday, injuring one person.
