Technology and Science29 August, 20263 min read
Supercell Storm With Hail Strikes Cremona, Injuring 43 and Damaging 10,000 Cars
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Cremona suffered a tornado and hailstorm injuring more than 40 people. Around 10,000 cars damaged by hail across Cremona and Lombardy.
Cremona hit by supercell
A violent storm with hail and strong winds struck Cremona in northern Italy’s Lombardy, and in just 10 minutes a supercell toppled trees, ripped roofs off buildings, flooded streets, and damaged emblematic monuments. The El País report said the provisional balance in Cremona rose to 43 injured, while none were in serious condition, and it added that four people remained hospitalized with femur fractures. The La Nuova Sardegna report put the toll at “more than 40 injured” and said at least 10,000 cars were damaged by hail in Cremona, with families forced to leave their homes.
In Cremona, the storm damaged the Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral, including “the detachment of part of the spire from one of its turrets,” and it also affected the Comunal Palace and its historic Civic Tower. The storm’s impact triggered emergency response, with El País saying firefighters received hundreds of calls and worked throughout the night to clear roads, secure buildings, and assist affected people.
Injuries, evacuations, damage
El País reported that most injuries were caused by falls or while people tried to take shelter from hail, and it said at least twelve families had to be evacuated as authorities studied the stability of other properties. In Cremona, the La Nuova Sardegna account said at least eight families were evacuated because their homes were no longer safe, and it added that some were housed in hotels. The La Nuova Sardegna report said about a hundred fire brigade interventions were required and Civil Protection volunteers were mobilized after the storm struck the city with particular intensity in the late afternoon.
El País described how the storm reached Cremona’s historic center, with the Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral suffering damage to the large rosette on the facade and the Comunal Palace’s Civic Tower taking serious damage. The La Nuova Sardegna report also said the municipality began checks on schools, gyms, and public buildings, while Mayor Andrea Virgilio announced that on Monday most municipal offices would remain closed and parks would be closed to allow checks on tree stability.
State of emergency and follow-up
As cleanup and damage assessment continued, the Lombardy region said it would ask the Italian government to recognize a state of emergency in several localities, and El País tied the request to ongoing extraordinary cleaning operations and removal of trees, glass, tiles, and debris. El País said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was closely monitoring the situation and maintained permanent contact with the Minister of Civil Protection, Nello Musumeci, and local authorities. La Nuova Sardegna reported that the Region announced it would seek to extend the state of emergency already requested for the wave of bad weather that began on August 20 to the provinces struck by tornadoes and hail.
The La Nuova Sardegna account also described additional impacts beyond Cremona, including in Villabona di Goito where four families were evacuated and in Marmirolo where the Bosco Fontana nature reserve was closed, a 233-hectare area where storm consequences still needed assessment and where electricity was still lacking. In the same follow-up period, El País said the town hall ordered the closure of public parks while tree stability was checked and risks evaluated, and it added that some buildings and municipal services would remain closed until inspections could be completed.