© AFP
On 9 August 2019 during the early evening hours, a tornado passed through both municipalities and left a path of destruction.
The images of the tornado remain vivid in people's memories, even one year after the event. Although weather forecasts predicted storms on the night in question, nobody expected such severe disturbances: broken power poles and trees, flying roof tiles, and damaged cars.
The tornado hit both Pétange and Bascharage with all its power. 19 people were injured that evening, with luckily no casualties. The path of destruction remains significant nevertheless. 180 buildings were damaged, with around 100 people no longer being able to sleep at home and in need of accommodation elsewhere.
Emergency services, the police, and even the Luxembourg Army worked tirelessly at the scene after the storm. Paul Schroeder, director of CGDIS, explained the following morning that additional support was provided by French emergency services during the night. The most pertinent safety measures were all taken as quickly as possible to eliminate any further repercussions from the destruction.
Clearing operations, which were launched the day after the storm, lasted several weeks. Meteolux later released details on the nature of the tornado, which was classified with an F2 level intensity by the European Severe Storms Laboratory (ESSL). Wind velocity ranged between 180 and 250 km/h. The tornado moved 14 kilometres in total across a wide-spread area.
The storm was triggered by a so-called "supercell", which formed in France above Reims and then moved towards the Grand Duchy.
One year after the tornado: how is the situation now?
Several houses have received a fresh paint job, replaced their roofs, and appear like nothing ever happened. Other houses remain vacant to this day, the owners still struggling to find a solution with insurance companies.
Dominique and Guy Peters lived in their house for 23 years, which was rendered inhabitable by the storm. Although they first believed that a solution could be found quickly, repairs on their home have only recently started, almost 12 months after the events.
More than one million in donations were received by the municipalities over the past months, over 600,000 euros having already been assigned. Family Peters in Rue Neuve has yet to receive their share. Out of the 30 severely damaged houses in Pétange, 24 remain inhabitable to this day.
