A tornado and hailstorm ripped through the northern Italian city of Cremona, causing widespread damage and injuring dozens of people.
Like much of Europe, Italy is facing unrelenting extreme weather and is experiencing its fifth heatwave this summer.
Italy’s fire brigade said 10 churches, including the city’s main cathedral, were damaged and responded to more than 500 emergency calls within hours.
A spire has fallen from one of the cathedral’s towers, transforming the city’s most famous landmark. Many historic churches suffered significant damage to their windows and skylights.
Houses were damaged by flying debris and roofs were lost, and 12 families had to evacuate. Firefighters said the hailstorm and fallen trees that followed the tornado knocked down hundreds of trees, damaged the roofs of many homes and damaged 10,000 cars.
Several barns were also severely damaged and many low-lying roads were flooded. According to the city government, damage is expected to reach several million euros.
The city of Cremona, known for making Stradivari instruments, was holding a local festival when the storm hit, causing extensive damage to the pavilion and causing multiple injuries, Francesca Ko, the city’s head of emergency services, said.
“Most (of the injured) have been discharged and one is under observation, but four trauma patients require hospitalization,” she said. “We dealt with more than 40 people arriving at almost the same time and our emergency systems responded immediately.”
Tornadoes are relatively rare in Italy, and no watches or warnings were issued for the possibility of such weather events, Italy’s Civil Protection Agency said.
Fire brigade and civil defense forces carried out an inspection of the building on Saturday. Roads were closed and the Forest Service inspected the so-called “Violin Forest,” where the city’s famous musical instruments are made.
