Poland/Czech Republic

Heavy storms kill seven in Poland, Czech Republic

Article published on the 2009-07-24 Latest update 2009-07-24 08:38 TU

Lightning strikes over Prague last week
(Photo: Reuters)

Heavy storms in central and eastern Europe on Thursday evening killed at least seven people in Poland and the Czech Republic with dozens of others injured.

Heavy storms and torrential rain felled trees, electricity poles and ripped off roofs.

Six people died and 34 were injured in Poland as winds of up to 100 kilometres per hour ripped across the country.

Three died in Lower Silesia in the south-west, one in the western region of Poznan and two in central Lodz. Several trees were uprooted in the Polish capital Warsaw.

Seventeen people were injured when they were electrocuted by a fallen high tension cable in the western area of Krotoszyn.

A 75-year-old woman died and several people were injured by falling trees in heavy storms in the Czech Republic.

Fallen trees also damaged electricity lines and disrupted rail traffic in several places, including in the capital, Prague.

Lightning struck a bus stop in the country's centre, injuring two teenaged boys.