German city deploys snowploughs after summer storm / Photo: © NEWS5/AFP
German city deploys snowploughs after summer storm
A Germany city had to deploy snowploughs at the height of northern hemisphere summer after a violent storm dumped huge quantities of hail in the streets.
Authorities in Reutlingen, southwest Germany, said a "localised storm with hail and heavy rain" swept over the city centre on Friday afternoon.
Images showed the streets blanketed in white -- city officials said the hail was 30 centimetres (12 inches) thick in places -- and snowploughs were clearing them.
Drainage systems were also blocked by the storm, causing water to pour into underground garages and basements, officials said in a statement.
About 250 firefighters took part in clean-up operations across the city, in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg.
M.A.Walters--TNT
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