Gale Force Winds Batter Slovenia: Trees Uprooted, Basements Flooded

A powerful storm, accompanied by torrential rain and fierce winds, swept through multiple parts of Slovenia overnight, leaving a trail of considerable material damage. The Starše municipality, located near Maribor, bore the brunt of the severe weather, with reports of uprooted trees, damaged roofs, and basements inundated with water.

All available firefighting forces, supported by the Maribor Fire Brigade, were mobilized to address the aftermath, as reported by 24ur.com. In Starše, members of volunteer fire departments from Starše, Prepolje, Trniče, and Zlatoličje, along with local utility workers, are engaged in clearing operations. Professional firefighters from Maribor have also joined the efforts to assist their colleagues.

Fire crews responded to a total of 17 locations across the settlements of Marjeta, Trniče, Prepolje, and Brunšvik, with the Starše area receiving the highest number of calls. Firefighters worked to repair and temporarily secure damaged roofs, remove wind-felled trees, and pump water from flooded basements. Due to the high volume of interventions, municipal authorities in Starše appealed for patience and understanding from residents, asking them to report non-urgent cases via email to allow focus on immediate emergencies.

The storm's impact was not confined to Starše. Other affected areas include Kungota, Rače-Fram, Miklavž na Dravskem polju, Pesnica, Polzela, Prebold, and Jesenice. In Kungota, strong winds toppled trees, while in Jesenice, a section of a metal roof was lifted by the wind. Damage to roofs was also reported in Rače-Fram. The castle in Ilirska Bistrica sustained damage when a part of its roof was torn off. In Dutovlje, a fallen tree damaged a parked car and a canopy. Pivka also reported a tree posing a hazard to power lines. Heavy rainfall exacerbated the situation, leading to floods, particularly in Jesenice and Polzela.

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We ask citizens for understanding and patience because we have many interventions, and the capacities on the ground are currently limited. Cases that are not urgent and can wait until tomorrow can be reported to the Starše Fire Community via email gzstarse@gmail.com. For emergencies, the number 112 is still available.