Slovakia provides €250k aid to families hit by hailstorm in Michalovce

The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of Slovakia, led by Minister Erik Tomáš, approved humanitarian assistance for households damaged by a severe hailstorm that struck the Michalovce district in eastern Slovakia last week. Nearly 200 applications were accepted, amounting to about €250,000 in total, with the first 70 families already receiving payments. The maximum grant per household is €1,500 and can be repeated if conditions are met; municipalities may also apply for up to €15,000 to purchase repair materials.

The mayor of the hardest‑hit village, Senné, Marcel Nemčík, warned that about 1,100 tonnes of debris, including asbestos‑containing roof material, remain to be cleared, estimating cleanup costs of more than €2 million. He said the waste is scattered across roads, gardens and residential areas and will require substantial state assistance. The government plans to coordinate the removal with the Interior Ministry and the Environmental Fund, while also monitoring insurance claims for affected residents.