Hailstorm havoc: Calgary airport and Alberta battered by cricket ball-sized hail

Great chaos ensued in the Canadian province of Alberta and at Calgary Airport. A strong hailstorm significantly damaged the terminal building. Tourists claimed that the hail was the size of cricket balls.

The process of cleaning and estimating the damages from the hailstorm, which came with strong gusts of wind, is currently underway in the northern part of Calgary, in the province of Alberta. Meteorologists are still tracking the storm cell. Warnings of dangerous precipitation are still in effect in some regions.

- We were pretty scared. Normally, I don't get scared during storms, but even I found myself a little bit like, 'oh, don't stand too close to the windows, said Netanya Winterburn, a resident of the Sage Hill district, as quoted by CBC News.

Broken car windows, dents in roofs, completely destroyed garden furniture, and all kinds of plants - these are the issues that the residents of the area now have to deal with.

Social media also posted videos showing the dramatic situation at the international airport. The strong hailstorm significantly damaged the terminal building, causing the closure of parts of the building and delays for over 80 scheduled flights. Some flights were also cancelled. Two airport gates (A and B) are closed until further notice. "For the safety of our guests and employees, the authority made the decision to evacuate and close B gates and some C gates at approximately 8:45 p.m. on Aug. 5. Our teams continue to monitor the situation and assess the extent of damage," read a statement from the airport.

Tourists present at the airport at that time experienced moments of terror. The recordings show flooded and damaged areas in the departure hall. Many shops at the airport were also flooded. The hail also shattered windows.