Supercell storm devastates Kittsee, leaving 60 operations

A powerful supercell storm brought torrential rain and hurricane-force wind gusts to Kittsee in the Neusiedl am See district on Thursday afternoon, ORF reported. No one was injured.

The storm caused extensive damage across the town. Water reached ankle depth in parts of a supermarket car park, while a malfunction trapped numerous customers and employees inside the store.

Almost every tree in the town centre was damaged or blown down, according to the district fire brigade. Roads were covered with branches and broken fences, and several roofs were severely damaged, with parts or all of their coverings torn away. Large truck trailers were overturned like shoeboxes.

Firefighters carried out 60 operations in Kittsee, securing roofs, pumping out water, removing trees and performing other safety and clean-up work. The local cemetery was also badly affected, the municipality said.

More than 20 vehicles and about 130 emergency workers from the fire brigades in Kittsee, Bruckneudorf, Deutsch Jahrndorf, Edelstal, Gattendorf, Neusiedl am See, Pama and Zurndorf responded.

Kittsee was the main area affected. Four additional operations were recorded in Edelstal and Potzneusiedl, while Neusiedl am See recorded about 40 operations.