Storm kills two in Austrian beer tent

An intense storm has ripped through a beer tent in northwestern Austria, killing two people and injuring at least 40 more.

About 700 people were in the tent erected for a local volunteer fire department festival in St Johann am Walde, located northeast of Salzburg, when the storm hit suddenly late on Friday.

A man and a woman, both aged about 20, died, the Austrian Press Agency reported.

Of those injured, 10 suffered serious injuries, media reported, without providing specifics.

About 150 rescue personnel responded to the incident, which left debris strewn across a large area.