Violent thunderstorms devastate Berlin: Fire brigade in constant operation!

Violent thunderstorms devastate Berlin: Fire brigade in constant operation!

Heavy thunderstorms have done a great job in Berlin and Brandenburg in the past few hours. The fire brigades in both regions are in constant operation to repair the damage and restore traffic. Loud Deutschlandfunk There were over 850 weather-related missions in Berlin alone, while more than 1,000 missions were recorded in Brandenburg. Fallen trees, broken branches and many other dangers don't make things easy for emergency services.

The impact on rail traffic is also significant. An overhead line between Hamburg and Hanover was damaged, leading to massive failures and delays in rail operations. There are even disruptions on the connection from Bonn to Berlin. At the moment only one track between Hamburg and Berlin is accessible. The Berlin S-Bahn network is also particularly affected, where traffic remains interrupted on certain routes. S-Bahn traffic was completely stopped between 6:15 p.m. and the evening due to branches and trees on the tracks RND reported.

Serious injuries from falling trees

The storms also resulted in several people being seriously injured. In Heiligensee, for example, one person was hit by a falling tree and fell into a ditch, while another person was trapped in a car. Both had to be taken to hospital. In Potsdam there was also a life-threatening injury caused by a falling treetop, which underlines the danger of the current weather situation.

Firefighters are particularly in demand in northwest Berlin. Fallen trees and broken branches keep the emergency services on their toes. In the first few hours after the storm struck, 81 and then 109 emergency calls were registered. There are now around 150 missions still ongoing, while over 320 have already been completed.

Forest areas closed, insurance companies under pressure

As a result of the damage, many forest areas had to be closed. A forest fire near Fischwasser-rückersdorf, which was extinguished by the rain, is one of the few positive news in this chaotic situation. Current natural events are a serious reminder that extreme weather conditions are on the rise and pose major challenges to society, according to a new analysis GDV shows. Over 230 billion euros have been caused by damage in the last 50 years, a figure that makes the economic challenges of climate change tangible.

The change to better weather will come for everyone affected, but until then, clean-up work and ensuring transport connections will remain the order of the day. Stay safe and informed!