After the turbulent night of storm "Zoltan", Berlin and Brandenburg's fire departments are satiated with around 300 operations. The frenetic pace has simmered, leaving just a few calls mainly related to fallen trees or branches, reported the regional control centers at noon. The north-west control center, tasked with Havelland, Prignitz, Ostprignitz-Ruppin, and Potsdam districts, saw no additional storm operations.
Since Thursday, the Lusatia fire department had been summoned 150 times due to "Zoltan". The north-west regional control center recorded 74 call-outs, with the majority instances involving fallen branches and trees. The north-east regional control center required the assistance of fire departments in Barnim, Oberhavel, and Uckermark in 72 instances.
No injuries were reported; fortunately, the situation was non-dramatic. Berlin's fire department had responded to 29 calls since Thursday afternoon, addressing minor concerns.
Two days before Christmas, "Zoltan"'s remnants affected Berlin and Brandenburg travelers. A tree blocking the Berlin-Dresden line in Lower Lusatia (Luckau-Uckro-Golßen) has led to delays in long-distance trains. ICE trains traversing from Berlin, Leipzig, and Erfurt to Frankfurt were also diverted and delayed by approximately an hour. Occasional cancellations have occurred.
On the Berlin S-Bahn, there were no storm-related disruptions. Deutsche Bahn announced that ICE train routes between Erfurt and Frankfurt were impacted as well.
Thursday evening, the fire department attended to numerous call-outs, mainly in southern Brandenburg. The Brandenburg State Environmental Agency issued a flood warning at the Prierow 2 gauge in Golßen (Dahme-Spreewald district). The rising waters in Dahme, Golßen to Märk. Buchholz were expected.
A fallen tree temporarily closed highway 111 between Berlin and Brandenburg on Friday night. The tree landed on the road around midnight, according to the police spokesman. The fire department was summoned to clear the obstacle. With the tree obstructing the highway, both directions were blocked.
The Cottbus/Chóśebuz zoo remained shut on Friday due to the storm warning. In contrast, the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation parks had no restrictions. "However, we urge citizens to refrain from visiting the parks under such weather conditions," stated spokesperson Frank Kallensee.
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Enrichment Insights (Minor):
- Beyond Brandenburg, storm "Zoltan" also caused numerous call-outs in Erfurt's fire department.
- Despite the storm, the Havelland Fire Department, part of Brandenburg, reported no further storm operations by midday.
- The unpredictable Northern German weather brings a looming storm low for the weekend, possibly affecting Oberhavel and other northwest regions.
- Lusatia's railway network, especially in OSTPRIGNITZ-RUPPIN, has been interrupted due to a fallen tree resulting from the storm.
- The adverse weather conditions have caused delays and cancellations in long-distance train services employing Berlin to Frankfurt, affecting travelers in Brandenburg and other areas of Northern Germany.
- By Thursday evening, the fire department in Lusatia had attended to over 150 call-outs, primarily resulting from fallen trees and branches, since the commencement of the storm on Thursday.
- Potsdam's Fire Department, covering the District of Potsdam, had a comparatively serene night, responding to just a few calls due to "Zoltan"'s effects.
- This weekend's storm will bring additional challenges to the Lausitz Fire Department, with high winds and heavy rain predicted by the Meteorological Service.
