Credit: CGDIS

On Friday evening, a tornado struck the municipalities of Pétange and Kaerjeng in southern Luxembourg, leaving seven injured and destroying several buildings and vehicles.

Shortly before 18:00 on Friday, and not long after MeteoLux's issuing of an orange weather warning for thunderstorms, a tornado hit the Pétange and Kaerjeng (combining the former municipalities of Bascharage and Clemency) municipalities and surrounding areas. Just after 19:00, the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) confirmed the incident, stated that it had affected several houses and a supermarket (Cactus) in the area. They added that residents should only call the emergency number 112 in the case of an emergency so as to allow them to handle the situation as efficiently as possible.

As of 21:00, official police reports stated that seven people were injured in the incident, one of whom is suffering from more serious injuries. The victims are currently receiving care at the Centre Hospitalier Émile Mayrisch (CHEM).

Following consultation between Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, Interior Minister Taina Bofferding and the High Commission for National Protection, the Luxembourg Government has activated its crisis unit for floods. This unit is composed of the High Commission for National Protection, the CGDIS, the Grand-Ducal Police, the Luxembourg Army, the Administration for Water Management, the Administration for Air Navigation, the Roads Administration, the Ministry for Energy and Regional Development, the Crisis Communication Service, CREOS and MeteoLux.

The rescue and municipal authorities are currently working together on site to coordinate the measures and actions to be taken. In addition, a French rescue and clearing unit of the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service SDIS 57 has been requested as reinforcement.

A hotline for people affected or those looking for information from abroad has been set up at the following number: 8002 8080.

Update: as of 23:15 on Friday, the number of reported injured persons has since risen to 14, including two more serious cases.