At least 14 injured as severe storm hits Sinaia, Romania

A strong atmospheric disturbance swept through western Romania during the afternoon hours of July 9, bringing violent wind gusts, heavy rain, and localized thunderstorms. The resort town of Sinaia, located in Prahova County, was one of the worst affected areas.

According to emergency services and media reports, wind gusts exceeded 100 km/h (62 mph), tearing off the roof of the local train station, uprooting trees, and downing power lines. The DN1 road and railway connecting Bucharest and Brașov were temporarily blocked due to fallen debris.

At least 14 individuals were injured, many of them tourists. Local reports confirmed that injuries included fractures, cranial trauma, and abrasions, with some victims requiring hospitalization. Several tourists from Israel were among the injured, according to Sinaia’s emergency response teams.

According to local reports, a parking lot near Peleș Castle, about 15 to 20 cars were destroyed or severely damaged. Some vehicles were spared, but most were struck by tree trunks.

At least five red code alerts were issued within just two hours for the counties of Bacău, Neamț, Botoșani, Iași, and Ialomița during Wednesday afternoon.

The storm disrupted local power supply and damaged traffic control systems, leading to significant travel delays and temporary closures of public services in the area.

Storm damage in Sinaia, Romania on July 9, 2025. Credit: IGSU

Storm damage in Sinaia, Romania on July 9, 2025. Credit: IGSU

Storm damage in Sinaia, Romania on July 9, 2025. Credit: IGSU

Storm damage in Sinaia, Romania on July 9, 2025. Credit: IGSU

Storm damage in Sinaia, Romania on July 9, 2025. Credit: IGSU

One person was briefly trapped in a car at a gas station in Sinaia after a tree fell over it.

“There was also a 112 emergency call reporting that six people had been caught in the storm, with trees falling on them. Responding crews found that four of them had minor injuries and suffered panic attacks. All are conscious and cooperative and are being assisted at the scene by a SMURD crew,” the Emergency Situations Inspectorate (ISU) said.

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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