Video: Lightning strikes spark fires across the country, injure 1 and kill 2 calves
Lightning strikes sparked fires across the Netherlands overnight after severe thunderstorms swept the country. One person in Landsmeer and two calves were killed in Toornwerd. The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute lifted its nationwide Code Orange warning for severe thunderstorms early Sunday, although a Code Yellow heat warning remained in effect across the country.
The injured person was taken to a hospital with injuries of unknown severity after lightning struck a home in Landsmeer, Noord-Holland, around 2 a.m., sparking an attic fire. Firefighters battled the blaze in three homes while nearby residents were evacuated. The fire was extinguished by about 4:30 a.m., allowing evacuated residents to return.
In Toornwerd, Groningen, two calves died after lightning ignited a barn fire. Firefighters prevented the flames from spreading to neighboring barns housing about 150 cows, while the farm owner moved horses to safety before crews arrived.
Lightning also struck the ridge of a thatched-roof home on Linschoterzandweg in Snelrewaard, Utrecht, causing a major fire. Firefighters said no one was inside the home during the operation.
In Amsterdam, lightning ignited a roof in the Zuid district. Local broadcaster AT5 reported that lightning also struck the Pontsteiger building, but its lightning rod appeared to prevent any damage.
A suspected lightning strike also set a haystack ablaze in Boskoop, Zuid-Holland, causing its roof to collapse. Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to a nearby barn and house. No injuries were reported.
In Wassenaar, firefighters rescued a cat after lightning struck a home on Wittenburgerweg. The fire proved difficult to extinguish.
Authorities and regional media also reported suspected lightning-related fires in Middelstum, Zuidwolde, Eelde, Haren, Nunspeet, Den Bosch, Oss, Helmond, Geldrop, and Beek en Donk. In Nunspeet, residents of an apartment building were evacuated as a precaution and temporarily sheltered in a nearby café after a brief fire.
The storms brought hail and powerful wind gusts across the country. Gusts reached 90 kph in Eindhoven. In neighboring Veldhoven, strong winds tore the cap and sails from a historic windmill dating to 1858, damaging nearby homes and cars.
Lightning also disrupted rail traffic around Gouda on Saturday evening. Dutch rail operator NS reported numerous service disruptions overnight and Sunday morning, although it was unclear whether all were related to the storms.
Emergency dispatch centers in several safety regions were overwhelmed by the volume of calls. Amsterdam-Amstelland received numerous reports of flooding, while Midden- en West-Brabant established an additional dispatch center at a fire station and urged residents to call emergency services only in life-threatening situations.
Separately, one staff member at the Concert at SEA festival remained in a hospital overnight for observation after suffering the effects of a lightning strike near the festival grounds. Organizers said the employee was doing well. Ten staff members were evaluated by medical personnel, and nine returned to work. The lightning strike caused technical problems that briefly delayed a performance by Bankzitters before the issues were resolved.
The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute lifted its nationwide orange warning for severe thunderstorms at 5:36 a.m., after first ending the warning overnight in the southern Netherlands. A yellow warning for heat remains in effect across all provinces and the Wadden area.
Temperatures are expected to remain just above 30 degrees Celsius in the eastern Netherlands on Sunday. “It will still feel very hot,” Weerplaza meteorologist Floris Lafeber said, adding that showers remain possible. Cooler weather is forecast from Monday, with temperatures falling to 22-26 degrees. “Then it will once again be great weather to do something outdoors,” he said.
