Several Injured as Violent Thunderstorm Batters Zurich
A powerful thunderstorm swept across Zurich on Friday evening, leaving several people injured and causing widespread disruption across the city and surrounding regions.
Among the injured was a 16-year-old girl who suffered critical injuries after being struck by a falling tree branch. Emergency responders provided immediate medical assistance before transporting her to a hospital for further treatment.
On Mythenquai, six additional people sustained minor injuries when trees collapsed during the storm. Two of the injured individuals required hospitalization.
The storm moved from Urdorf toward Winterthur at around 6:00 PM and remained over Zurich for nearly two hours. Heavy rainfall, strong winds, lightning and localized hail created dangerous conditions across the canton.
Emergency services responded to numerous incidents, including flooded roads, fallen trees, blocked streets, damaged power infrastructure and water-filled basements. One person had to be rescued from a building after rising water levels trapped them inside.
According to emergency officials, more than 730 fire service calls and 130 ambulance calls were recorded during the severe weather event. Across the canton of Zurich, firefighters responded to approximately 680 separate incidents.
Meteorologists reported that the storm was part of a larger weather system affecting multiple regions of Switzerland. More than 15,000 lightning strikes were recorded nationwide during Friday evening.
Heavy rainfall was measured in several areas, including 37 millimetres in Zürich-Leutschenbach and 50 millimetres in Sihlbrugg. Strong wind gusts and hailstorms further increased the impact of the severe weather.
Public transport services in Zurich also faced disruptions as fallen trees and damaged overhead lines affected tram and bus operations. Police received dozens of reports related to fallen trees, water leaks and boats breaking free from moorings.
Other regions of Switzerland experienced severe weather as well, with hailstorms reported in Spiez in the Bernese Oberland and Buochs in the canton of Nidwalden.
