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Zurich hit by severe hailstorm injuring 40 people
A severe hailstorm and supercell thunderstorm struck Switzerland, particularly impacting the Zurich canton, on Friday, August 28. The extreme weather event, characterized by winds reaching up to 142 km/h and massive hailstones measuring between 6 and 8 centimeters in diameter, caused widespread destruction to homes, vehicles, and infrastructure.
According to the Zurich Cantonal Police, approximately 40 people were injured, the majority of whom were children. Many victims, particularly students in the Winterthur area, sustained head injuries and required hospitalization. Emergency services were overwhelmed, receiving 450 calls within a single 30-minute window.
The storm caused significant damage to school buildings, solar energy systems, and rooftops. On the A1 motorway, drivers were forced to stop due to shattered windshields. Beyond Switzerland, the severe weather also affected parts of Italy, specifically the Po Valley near Cremona, where the Cremona Cathedral sustained damage.
Entities
A1 motorway · Aargau · Bulach · Crema Cathedral · Glattfelden · Meteo Schweiz · Winterthur · Zurich
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Approximately 40 people, mostly children, were injured by the hail in the Zurich canton. www.in.gr · www.ethnos.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · pelop.gr
- [DISPUTED] Wind speeds during the storm reached up to 142 km/h. www.ethnos.gr · www.iefimerida.gr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Emergency services received 450 calls within a 30-minute window. pelop.gr
- [● 6 SOURCES] The storm caused extensive damage to homes, vehicles, and infrastructure, including solar systems and school buildings. www.in.gr · www.ekriti.gr · www.enikos.gr · www.ethnos.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · +1 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Of the 450 emergency calls, approximately 300 were for the fire department and 150 were for medical assistance. pelop.gr
- [DISPUTED] Meteorologists characterized the event as a rare storm supercell with winds reaching up to 130 km/h. www.iefimerida.gr
- [● 2 SOURCES] Meteo Schweiz recorded approximately 46,000 lightning strikes during the storm. www.ethnos.gr · www.iefimerida.gr
- [● 6 SOURCES] Hailstones reached diameters of up to 6 to 8 centimeters. www.in.gr · www.ekriti.gr · www.enikos.gr · www.ethnos.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · +1 more