Over 30 injured as tornado topples trees, rips off roofs in German town
India Today
At least 30 people were injured as a tornado blew away roofs, toppled trees and sent debris flying in the western German city of Paderborn on Friday.
A tornado swept through the western German city of Paderborn on Friday, injuring at least 30 people as it blew away roofs, toppled trees and sent debris flying for miles, authorities said.
Meteorologists had warned that heavy rainfall and hail were expected in western and central Germany on Friday, with storms producing wind gusts up to 130 kmph. Storms on Thursday had already disrupted traffic, uprooted trees that toppled onto rail tracks and roads, and flooded hundreds of basements in western Germany.
“30 to 40 injured, at least 10 of them seriously,” Paderborn police said Friday after the tornado. They urged people to remain in their houses so as not to hamper rescue efforts or endanger themselves.
Heavy storm damage was also reported in the nearby town of Lippstadt. A church steeple in the town was toppled and the German news agency dpa reported that more than 100 people were temporarily trapped in a local open air pool after fallen trees blocked the exit.
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The regional fire service said all available rescuers were being deployed to the area.
Police said two French citizens died after their motorized paraglider was caught by a strong gust of wind shortly after taking off Thursday from an airfield in Ballenstedt, 175 kilometres southwest of Berlin. Police in Saxony-Anhalt state said the pair, both 59, were urged to land because of a forecast for an abrupt change in the weather.
