Storm injures 84 at gymnastics festival
The Federal Gymnastics Festival in Biel has been struck by bad weather for the second time after a storm swept across western Switzerland late Thursday. A tent collapsed under the onslaught of high winds, leaving dozens of people injured, some of them seriously.
Altogether 84 people were hurt. As of Saturday morning, 11 of them were still in hospital. Many suffered back and head injuries after being struck by structural elements from the collapsed tent.
Already last week, strong winds caused major wreckage at the festival. Despite the damage and the injuries, the organisers decided not to call off the event, which continued on Friday after emergency overnight repairs.
Over 60,000 people participate in the festival, which takes place over ten days and is held once every six years.
The storm, bringing heavy rain and winds reaching speeds up to 130 kilometres per hour, moved in from the south, striking Geneva before heading northwards. Flights at the city’s airport were delayed as were trains in the region.
Hail damage and uprooted trees were reported along the path of the storm, which marked a change in the weather after four days of high temperatures.
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