Berlin confronts emergencies: Clearing fallen trees, shutting down forests due to another storm
The city of Berlin experienced a severe summer storm on Thursday evening, causing significant impacts in various areas. The storm, which involved heavy rain, hail, and gale-force winds with gusts up to 105 km/h, left a trail of destruction in its wake.
**Tegel Forest Status:** Severe damage was reported in Tegel Forest and nearby Spandauer Forest, with thousands of trees uprooted. Due to this, both forests remain closed for safety reasons and will be inaccessible for several weeks. The Berlin Forestry Department is prioritizing clearing roads and residential areas before tackling the forest clean-up. Entering these forests is currently dangerous because of unstable branches and fallen trees, and swimming near the Havel River by the forest's edge is strongly discouraged.
**Train Disruptions:** While specific details about train disruptions in Tegel or Berlin's S-Bahn services were not explicitly provided, there has been concern about the necessity of halting S-Bahn services during storms. This suggests that storm-related interruptions to public transit operations likely occurred or were considered for safety.
**Injury Updates:** No direct reports of injuries from the recent storms were found. However, given the extensive damage and warnings issued by forestry officials about the dangers posed by fallen trees and branches, precautionary measures have been emphasized to prevent injuries.
**Additional Context:** Following the stormy conditions, Berlin has entered a period of hot weather with temperatures reaching up to 39 degrees Celsius, providing a stark contrast. The storm response this week has already eclipsed Monday's 'Storm Ziros'. Temperatures are expected to hover around 24 °C during the weekend. Services on the S-Bahn trickled back after 7:30 pm, but northern routes are still experiencing delays. The storm resulted in fallen trees and branches across the city.
Public caution remains advised around affected areas, and the skies are clearing after the storm. The German Weather Service forecasts a calm weekend ahead, offering relief to the city after the tumultuous weather. Tegel Forest remains off-limits due to the storm's impact, and regional trains are still disrupted due to the storm. The Senate issued a warning about a "danger to life" in all wooded and green areas across the city, and firefighters were "constantly in motion," clearing debris around the clock due to the storm. Two individuals were seriously injured in Heiligensee due to the storm, but no new information about their status was provided in this paragraph.
In the aftermath of the severe summer storm, environmental scientists can study the effects of such weather events on the city's forests, specifically Tegel Forest. Given the current weather conditions, with warm temperatures and clear skies, it's crucial for citizens to practice caution while exploring open spaces, as many fallen trees and branches remain in the city, posing a potential risk.
