The material toll from the violent storms on Friday morning is expected to be particularly heavy in the canton of Zurich. Around forty people, mainly children, were injured. The cantonal buildings insurance company expects to receive more than 2,000 claims and estimates the damage at around 30 million €. As of Saturday morning, more than 830 cases had already been announced and firefighters had carried out more than 350 interventions. The districts of Bülach and Winterthur were particularly affected.
The hail and powerful gusts notably damaged roofs, windows, facades and numerous vehicles. Seuzach and Neftenbach were hit hard. In school buildings, around forty people, mainly children, were injured by the hail. Several of them had to be hospitalized.
The bad weather also wreaked havoc on the roads. Windshields were shattered by the hailstones, forcing motorists to stop on the emergency lane of the A1. Trees were uprooted and branches torn off.
The phenomenon was exceptional in its intensity. According to SRF meteorologist Simon Eschle, a hail event of this magnitude only statistically occurs in a given location every 30 to 50 years.
The authorities are still calling for caution: weakened branches or elements of buildings can still fall, while debris and pieces of glass remain scattered in certain affected areas.
