Tornado in the Czech Republic: A path of destruction

One day after a tornado devastated South Moravia, the shock runs deep. At least five people were killed. Thousands are suddenly faced with the ruins of their existence. The reconstruction will probably take years.

The morning after, the horror can still be seen on Marek Kosut. “We’re glad we’re alive,” said the mayor of Moravska Nova Ves. “We sat right behind the window and were lucky that we managed to get to safety.”

It must have all happened very quickly. At least that’s how many of those affected describe it, for example Roman Drobecek. “I called to my wife to take the children as soon as possible and go to the cellar,” he said. And then the first panes broke.

Thousands of houses are damaged

It was a strange roar, as if a train was approaching, reports an eyewitness. Storms had been announced, in South Moravia as in the whole of the Czech Republic. But what formed in the Hodonin and Breclav districts was a tornado. It had the typical vertical column of air that moved through the area at speeds of over 300 kilometers per hour, destroying everything in the way.

It was an apocalypse. “These are operations as we know them from earthquakes,” said Jaroslav Mikoska, spokesman for the fire brigade in South Moravia. But the situation here is very similar.

Thousands of houses are damaged or destroyed. Many cars are just wrecks. Electricity pylons and trees were knocked down. Tens of thousands of households are without electricity. Important traffic connections were blocked for hours. Some missing persons are still being searched for.

200 injured people

“We are now searching the houses to see if anyone is still in there,” said Hynek Folvasky from the Luzie fire department. That is the most important thing now. “And then we check the statics.”

Rescue workers from all over the Czech Republic were ordered to South Moravia. They are now supported by soldiers. At least five people were killed, said the rescue workers. 200 people had to receive medical care, 60 of them are so seriously injured that they have to be hospitalized.

Interior Minister Jan Hamacek, who had already traveled to the disaster area during the night, was with the rescue workers on site. “From what I’ve seen the system worked well,” he said. The minister thanked Austria and Slovakia, who immediately came to the rescue. “We took advantage of their large offer little by little.”

Rapid help announced

Thousands of them are now literally standing in front of the ruins of their existence in one fell swoop. Hamacek announced rapid financial aid for those affected and was already looking ahead. “Now we have to come with a rebuilding package,” he clarified. The houses would have to be torn down and rebuilt – including the streets. “It takes months and years. That is a lot of money and the state has to help,” said Hamacek.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis will also travel to South Moravia in the afternoon. He was in Brussels at the EU summit and was unable to fly to the Czech Republic yesterday evening – because of the storm.