In The Eye Of The Storm

In The Eye Of The Storm

In the eye of the storm: The moment Mother Nature unleashes fury on Finland, injuring 40 people

These dramatic images were taken in the moments before a powerful thunderstorm struck parts of Finland.

The bad weather front is clearly visible as it approaches the skies above the capital Finland, moments before strong winds, heavy rain and lightning battered the city.

Forty people were injured in the storm, two of them seriously, as they enjoyed a heavy metal festival in the town of Pori.

Eye of the storm: This picture shows the moments before a powerful storm hit Helsinki

Calm: Revellers enjoy the Sonisphere festival as heavy rain can be seen falling from the storm front behind them

Gale force: The storm damaged equipment belong to band Motley Crue and forced them to cancel their performance

Strong winds and lightning strikes badly damaged one of the stages at the Sonisphere Festival, and the equipment of several bands including Motley Crue was also ruined.

Organisers said in a statement: 'A severe thunderstorm hit (the) Sonisphere Festival in Pori, Finland. Strong freak wind gusts damaged the stages and knocked down tents and fences.

'Approximately 40 people were injured, two of them seriously.'

Casualties: Forty people were injured at the Sonisphere festival in Pori when the storm damaged stages and electrical equipment

Powerful: An aeroplane lies on its side after its undercarriage was damaged during the storm in Pori

Sodden: Heavy metal fans were completely drenched as the sudden storm hit and one of the stages had to be abandoned

Downpour: The skies above the Finland capital turn an ugly black as the storm approaches

Black skies: The rain is on its way as the front moves above the city

A spokesman for the Met Office said: 'Storms of this intensity only occur with large towering cumulonimbus clouds, and looking at the pictures this was a particularly large storm, known as a super cell.'