Tornado hits Cremona in Italy, around 40 injured and extensive damage / Cathedral and City Hall roofs damaged

Cremona was hit this afternoon by a powerful storm accompanied by a tornado, hail and strong winds, causing extensive damage in several parts of the Italian city.

Among the damaged buildings were the Cathedral and City Hall. The winds severely damaged the roof of one of the Cathedral’s spires, while the roof of the City Hall’s civic tower also collapsed. The tower is one of the remaining elements of the city’s old building.

Around 40 people were reportedly injured as a result of the extreme weather. Most suffered minor injuries, while a more serious incident occurred on Via Giuseppina, on the outskirts of Cremona, where a fallen tree struck a vehicle. Residents, followed by emergency crews, helped remove the people inside the car.

Other injured people were hit by hailstones, pieces of roofing, tiles and materials torn from buildings. Some received medical attention, mainly for physical injuries and shock.

The storm also affected the eastern part of Bassa Piacentina, where heavy hail was recorded. In Castelsangiovanni, near the border with the province of Pavia, the hailstones reached the size of tennis balls.

Dozens of calls were received by the fire service, mainly concerning fallen trees and damage to vehicles. Agriculture was also affected, particularly vineyards, where considerable damage was reported.

Heavy rainfall also caused difficulties along the Piacenza-Turin motorway. Several drivers were forced to stop temporarily, but the authorities said there were no injuries.

Interventions were also carried out in Turin, where firefighters rescued eight people trapped on the road in the Clot de la Batüa area. They were trying to return to their homes when they encountered difficult conditions.

The people were evacuated from the area and taken to a safe location. Fire crews then began clearing mud and debris from the road, which is expected to remain closed overnight.

Numerous problems were also reported in the province of Alessandria. Strong winds knocked trees onto roads and vehicles, while also damaging tiles and other parts of building structures.

Firefighters received around 50 requests for assistance. The areas worst affected included the provincial capital, Tortona and the lower Scrivia Valley, where the effects of wind, rain and hail were recorded.

Bad weather also caused difficulties in the mountainous areas of Trentino. After several cable cars were closed because of strong winds, more than 800 mountaineers were assisted and escorted down to the valley.

At elevations above 2,500 meters, winds reached speeds of more than 110 kilometers per hour. The main operations took place in Ciampac and Sass Pordoi.

In Ciampac, the cable car shutdown left around 400 people stranded, and they were transported to the valley by vehicle. In Sass Pordoi, the situation affected around 600 people. Some were escorted by rescue teams along Forcella Pordoi Pass, while the cable car was made available for those most at risk, including elderly people and children, after it reopened.