A devastating hail of twigs and trunks descended upon southern Poland on Monday, as gusts reaching a staggering 96mph (155km/h) pummeled the region. The Tatra mountains, known for their rugged beauty, were particularly vulnerable to the wrath of the wind, with towns like Zakopane and Rabka-Zdrój bearing the brunt of the ferocity.
In Rabka-Zdrój, a senseless tragedy unfolded as two women and a six-year-old child were crushed beneath a fallen tree. The victims’ identities remain unknown, but the outcome is all too clear. “Their lives were extinguished by the fury of the wind,” a somber firefighter said.
One woman’s fate was equally tragic, as a tree came crashing down on her car in Zakopane, claiming her life. A child fell victim to similar circumstances in the same town, leaving locals reeling from the sudden devastation.
As authorities scrambled to respond to the crisis, they issued warnings of treacherous winds reaching at least 62mph, prompting the closure of mountain tracks in the Tatra national park. Firefighters were called to intervene a staggering 140 times on Monday morning, frantically working to clear roads and assist homeowners whose roofs had been left in shambles.
Strong winds wreak havoc in southern PolandWhat’s perhaps most remarkable about this disaster is the stark contrast between the warm weather that preceded the storm. Just three days prior, temperatures had soared to a record-breaking 26.4C in the town of Tarnów, courtesy of an unusual warmth wave. Few could have predicted the dramatic turn of events that was to come.
As the people of southern Poland work to rebuild and recover from the destruction, they are left to ponder the capricious nature of the weather. The fallen trees, once majestic and serene, now stand as grim reminders of the unforgiving power of the elements.