Hundreds of villages were hit last night by a violent storm. In some, the hail balls as big as tennis ball and the rain smashed plantations and roofs, in others, the rain flooded gardens and cellars.

Many portions of roads were blocked by fallen trees.

Scores of households were flooded in the village of Magdacesti, near Chisinau.

Rescue teams now pump the water out of the people’s cellars and houses.