Unusual tornado leaves at least 3 dead and dozens injured in Czech Republic

(CNN) – At least three people were killed and dozens injured in an unusual tornado that struck several villages in South Moravia, in the southeastern part of the Czech Republic, according to regional emergency services spokeswoman Michaela Bothova.

A local hospital in the city of Hodonin treated 83 injured people. Forty-five were hospitalized, six of whom were in serious condition, hospital director Antonin Tesarik said.

The hardest hit is a town in Luzice, where 100-120 of the houses were destroyed or damaged, according to Luzice Mayor Tomas Klasek.

According to Interior Minister Jan Hamacek, some 100 firefighting units, including additional crews from Austria and Slovakia, urban search and rescue teams are involved in search and rescue operations.

(Photo by HELMUT FOHRINGER / APA / AFP via Getty Images)

The Czech military sent an engineering unit to the region and more units are heading to affected areas to help with search and rescue efforts, according to the Defense Ministry.

The South Moravian region was hit by a series of heavy storms Thursday night with hail the size of a tennis ball and a tornado.