On Friday, recovery and clean-up efforts were underway in the Czech Republic, a day after the nation was hit by a deadly severe weather outbreak that gave rise to what could be the most powerful tornado recorded in the country's history.
Severe Weather Outbreak
According to Reuters, the focus of the damage was centered around the South Moravia area in the southern part of the central European country where thousands of homes were destroyed and hundreds were wounded. The Associated Press reported on Friday that as many as five casualties had taken place.
Tyler Roys, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist said: "The outbreak of tornado that occurred yesterday was part of a bigger severe weather outbreak that took place across southeastern Germany, into central Poland and the Czech Republic."
Late on Thursday, dangerous thunderstorms swept through Poland and the Czech Republic, bringing about dozens of severe weather reports, including three tornadoes and hail the size of tennis balls. One tornado pushed through the southeastern part of the Czech Republic, in what is being referred to as a "rare" event.
Also Read: 6 Frightening Types of Tornadoes and Whirlwinds
The Six-point Fujita Scale
Czech TV meteorologists were giving an estimation that the tornado produced 332 kph winds (206-mph), which would make it the most powerful in the country's modern history, and the first tornado in the country since 2018, according to Reuters.
According to Matt Setvak, a local meteorologist, the extent of the destruction leads him to believe the tornado was "not less than F3 intensity, but very likely F4," the AP reported.
This measurement is on the six-point Fujita scale that measures the intensity of tornadoes on the basis of the amount of damage it causes, much of Europe still use this. In 2007, the Fujita scale was replaced by the Enhanced Fujita Scale in the United States. Such intense winds from the tornado led to horrific damage in several towns close to the city of Hodonin.
Authorities Declares State of Emergency For the Affected Area
On Thursday, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said, "It's a huge tragedy." Babis is journeying back from the EU Summit in Brussels to visit the area that was affected on Friday. Damage across the area was substantial, with whole roofs ripped off of houses, shattered windows, and overturned cars. The local zoo was also affected, according to BBC.
Nearly fifty percent of the town was leveled to the ground, according to Marek Babisz, a region official for the village of Hrusky. Babisz said the church has no tower, the elementary school has no roof and insulation anymore, just walls remained from what were houses. There're injured, it's very terrible.
A state of emergency was also declared for the region affected. Jan Grolich, South Moravia regional governor described the traumatic scene as a "living hell" after he saw some of the damage, according to The Guardian.
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