According to a government statement issued on Monday, a total 180 firefighters, 25 fire and rescue centres and three specialised response groups worked into Sunday night to continue with the rescue effort.

Friday’s tornado ripped through two communes, blowing off the roofs of 30 houses in Pétange and badly damaging those of 50 others. In Käerjeng, the tornado damaged up to 100 houses, of which 30 lost their roofs. Some 14 people were injured, of which two were still in hospital on Sunday evening. According to Paperjam, writing on Sunday in total 314 homes suffered damage and 90 remained uninhabitable.

Pylons were mangled, and threatened to fell a high voltage rail line. As a result rain service was interrupted on the between Pétange and Luxembourg via Dippach line. Photo: CGDIS/Facebook

Meeting with local leaders on Sunday, interior minister Taina Bofferding said that over half of the calls for help received had been treated. Much of the work involved roof repairs, requiring specialised equipment.

Traffic in the affected neighbourhoods remained severely disrupted on Sunday, though mainly because of the rescue operations. The government urged the public not to visit the impacted areas unless absolutely necessary.

Immediately following the tornado, Cactus Bascharage was closed off because of damage. Trains were also disrupted on Friday after a high-voltage line was damaged after several pylons were brought down. Train service resumed again on Saturday. Some 200 volunteers and 40 police officers were among the first responders on Friday.

Photo: Claude Piscitelli/Cour Grand Ducale

On Saturday, Grand Duke Henri, pictured above, was among the dignitaries to visit affected residents in both communes.

Call for donations

Meanwhile, local councillors on Sunday launched a collection to help those whose homes were damaged pay for repairs not covered by insurance. Donations can be made to the following accounts:

- Käerjeng hëlleft: CCPL LU78 1111 7024 7295 0000

- Fir e gudden Zweck - Gemeng Péiteng (Pétange): BILL LU27 0026 0100 6485 5800

Emergency social financial assistance is also available for those whose homes were impacted by the tornado. Further information about the conditions and how to apply can be found here.

Emergency responders and members of the army in the crisis unit. Photo: CGDIS/Facebook

Luxembourg was not the only country to be impacted by extreme weather phenomena on Friday. According to euronews, thunderstorms provoked a tornado in Amsterdam in the Netherlands on Friday. Local media suggested there was no loss of life.