Massive damage in Split after intense storm

Heavy rain, thunder, walnut-sized hail, and extreme winds blew through the Split area just before 9 am Tuesday morning. 

There are fallen trees and branches on nearly every street in the city. The storm only lasted about ten minutes but the damage is extensive.

Police had to transport people from the Marjan Park to the city center by boat because uprooted trees were everywhere, blocking pathways and roads. The area has been closed off.

Split-Dalmatia County Prefect Blaženko Boban said the storm caused enormous damage, especially in the western part of the city, but there were no human casualties. Around twenty people suffered mostly minor injuries.

"All city services are in the field working. I want to thank all of them for responding so quickly. Now, we have to tall up the damage,” said Mayor Tomislav Šuta.

No part of the city that was left unscathed. The wind uprooted trees, destroyed cars, and flooded streets. City fire chief Mario Mikas said reinforcements have been called in from the wider area.

"We are going to clean everything up but it is going to take a while. There are a lot of downed trees and branches on roads and cars. That's number one so that we can get traffic moving again,” said Mikas.

Serious damage has been reported to Hajduk's stadium in Poljud, where the roof was badly damaged, as well as the pitch, which was ripped up and flooded.

"We don't know the extent of the damage yet but it looks extensive. The biggest issue is the roof. There are holes in the polycarbonate panes that line the roof and that's dangerous and could affect the construction of the roof," said Hajduk president Ivan Bilić.

In the city's main and northern ports the storm unraveled moorings and ships drifted away, hitting other vessels and causing damage. The Petar Hektorović ferry was unmoored and crashed into two other boats, a catamaran and a tour boat. The tour boat capsized.

"A gust of wind clocking in at 212 kmph was recorded on the Petar Hektorović ferry. Three spiral metal cables and four ropes ruptured. Only thanks to the quick action of the captain and crew of the ferry, two anchors, avoiding a much worse outcome in Split port,” said Jelena Ivulic, a representative of the national ferry company Jadrolinija.

The cellars of Diocletian's Palace and the Peristyle were completely flooded, the water reaching up to half a meter in some places.

The Meteorological Service in Split said the city was hit by a typical but very intense summer storm that was preceded by very high temperatures.