Severe Weather Alert: Brace Yourself for the Approaching Tempest - A suspected tornado covers the church roof with strong winds.
In the afternoon, a powerful gust of wind battered parts of South Westphalia, ripping off the roof of a church tower in Hagen and uprooting trees. The wind blew through the region for approximately ten minutes, severely damaging several roofs and numerous vehicles. The fire department reported that they were called to 40 incidents, where they deployed a total of 120 personnel to deal with the most severe cases. Many streets were covered with roof tiles and fallen branches.
Pastor Dieter Aufenanger describes the damage to St. Elisabeth Church in shock: "The spire of the church's tower detached from its anchoring and was blown onto the street. It's unbelievable." Now, the church's congregation must find a way to clean up the debris.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, according to the fire department. The spokesperson remarked, "We had a hell of a time." The German Weather Service (DWD) is now investigating if this incident was caused by a tornado. "We're checking the data," said the DWD.
St. Elisabeth Church, constructed in the neo-Baroque style between 1924 and 1927, was rebuilt post-World War II. The pastor added that the roof structure has now been completely destroyed, with roof tiles and beams landing on a parked car.
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- The powerful wind caused significant damage to a church in Hagen, located in North Rhine-Westphalia, ripping off its southern church tower's roof and blowing it onto the street.
- Despite the strong wind, the local fire department managed to respond to 40 incidents, dispatching a total of 120 personnel to tackle the worst-hit areas.
- Pastor Dieter Aufenanger, shocked by the devastation, described the situation at St. Elisabeth Church, stating that its spire had been torn from the tower and landed on a nearby car.
- St. Elisabeth Church, built in the neo-Baroque style in the 1920s and rebuilt after World War II, now faces extensive repairs, as the roof structure and tiles have been severely damaged.
- In a statement, the German Weather Service (DWD) expressed its intention to investigate the incident, considering the possibility of a tornado being the cause.
- Residents in South Westphalia reported the presence of a suspected tornado, which weakened slightly as it moved towards the city of Hagen, but continued to blow with strong winds.
- Local authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia urged citizens to stay indoors and follow emergency instructions, as the windstorm posed a potential threat to property and safety.
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