A powerful tornado swept through western Poland, causing widespread destruction – video
A powerful tornado swept through western Poland in the Opole Voivodeship, leaving behind significant destruction and damage to infrastructure. In just one evening, the Polish Fire and Rescue Service recorded more than 30 emergency calls from local residents related to the effects of the strong winds and severe weather.
This was reported by RMF 24.
The village of Balczowice, located in the Strzelce County, was hit hardest by the storm. As a result of the tornado, at least 18 buildings were damaged there, with hurricane-force winds completely or partially tearing off roof elements, and some structures suffered extensive structural damage. In addition, widespread power line outages and a large number of fallen trees were reported in the village. The mayor of the Ujazd municipality, describing the aftermath of the disaster at the scene, called the scene he witnessed “apocalyptic.”
According to official data from the national meteorological agency, wind gusts at the storm’s epicenter could have reached speeds of up to 200 km/h. Experts note that this area has suffered from similar natural anomalies before. In particular, in August 2008, a tornado was recorded here that is still considered the strongest in Poland in recent decades—at that time, about 150 residential and farm buildings sustained varying degrees of damage. Currently, active restoration work and debris removal are underway in the affected region.
The powerful Atlantic cyclone “Christine” swept through Portugal, causing significant destruction. According to preliminary data, at least five people were killed, and hundreds of thousands of the country’s residents were left without power.
At least 70 people have died in the U.S. as a result of a powerful storm. This storm brought snow, ice, and low temperatures, crippling infrastructure and leaving approximately 332,000 homes and businesses without power, primarily in the states of Tennessee and Mississippi.
