Rescue workers carrying out searches after South Moravia tornado disaster

Fire officers from over 100 units are carrying out searches in areas of South Moravia severely damaged by a tornado and huge hail stones on Thursday evening. The teams are looking for people who may be trapped in the rubble after many buildings were damaged and surveying the affected places. So far five lives are known to have been lost in the disaster. Specialist search and rescue teams have been sent to the area and army detachments are also due to take part in the mission.

Tens of thousands of homes have been left without power and hundreds of people have been treated for injuries.