Switzerland | A violent storm with 217 km/h winds leaves one dead and dozens injured

A violent storm with wind gusts estimated at 217 km/h hit the city La Chaux-de-Fondsin the northwest of Swiss, around 11:30 in the morning, causing the death of one person and injuring 40 others. Although the storm did not last long, strong gusts of wind caused significant damage.

Numerous vehicles were destroyed, roofs torn off, street furniture blew up, and dozens of trees were uprooted. He even blew off part of the roof of a skating rink. Several thousand buildings were affected.

The strong gusts of wind also caused several trees to fall on the train tracks, forcing the cut of the connections between La Chaux-de-Fonds and the train stations. La Ferriere, St-Imier, Les Hauts-Geneveys and le locle, as reported by the Swiss railway company CFF on its social networks. The company assured that they are already creating alternative bus lines to cover some of these routes.

At the moment the rescue and cleaning operations continue. The police appealed to the population not to expose themselves to any risk, especially falling tiles or trees, and not to venture into the forests of the area.

Storms in eastern France and northern Italy

Before reaching Switzerland, the storm affected the eastern franceand in particular to the Department of Doubs. The city of montlebon had been the most affected. The town hall, church and school buildings, as well as “about fifteen houses” suffered damage to their roofs.

Other cities were also hit by heavy rains. A Delta Airlines flight Milan-New York was diverted to Rome due to bad weather, and in the province of Monza and Brianza, a woman was crushed to death by a large tree that suddenly fell on her.