‘Living hell’: deaths reported as Czech Republic tornado devastates villages

South Moravia governor voices shock at level of destruction as footage shows houses destroyed

A tornado and hailstones the size of tennis balls has hit the Czech Republic's south-east, rescuers said, razing houses and causing an as yet unknown number of fatalities.

Video footage from the region on social networks showed destroyed buildings and cars, shorn tree stumps and several fires with thick black smoke.