Gale Forces Strike Berlin - S-Bahn service halted
Berlin Storm-Related Injuries Lead to S-Bahn Service Suspension - Disrupted traffic in Metro Berlin due to injuries caused by a storm
Min read: 3 mins
Another brutal storm barrels through Berlin, flattening trees, drenching the city, and leaving at least two severely injured. Berlin's S-Bahn network temporarily grinds to a halt due to the storm's destructive wrath.
At 18:15 PM, the S-Bahn’s service halt comes as trees and limbs crash onto the tracks, bringing all lines to a standstill. Train service across the entire network is suspended amidst the weather chaos, the company announces on the X platform.
Stranded trains huddle at the nearest station, waiting out the storm's fury. Cleanup efforts are underway, the company spokesperson assures. By nightfall, select S-Bahn lines recommence service.
Storm Carnage in Berlin and Brandenburg
BER Airport remains untouched by the storm's ferocity, a spokesperson says, since operations weren't disrupted. The scene appeared sunny at the airport.
The Berlin Fire Department clocked a whopping 580 emergency responses by 8:30 PM. Two citizens have sustained severe injuries as a result of the storm. One patient was walking, struck by a felled tree and sent tumbling into a ditch. The other was trapped inside a vehicle after a tree fell on top of it. Both victims are rushed to the hospital.
A single individual suffers grave injuries in Potsdam, a fire department rep says. The unfortunate soul was with another person when a falling tree branch caught them off guard. The second individual suffered severe, but non-life-threatening injuries. The fire department withholds further details.
The Northwest Braces the Brunt
The city’s fire department swings into action across Berlin, battling fallen trees or broken branches. All units are mobilized, say officials. The northwest sector of the city—North Spandau, Heiligensee, and Tegel—suffers the storm’s brunt, with numerous responses. The Tegeler Forest’s roads are barely navigable due to fallen trees or downed branches. Boats on waterways capsize, necessitating the rescue of some individuals.
In Konradshöhe, the northwestern outskirts of the city, the sound of fire truck sirens rings out persistently. Streets are blanketed with massive branches, reports the dpa. A skylight shatters from the wind’s force. In Müllerstraße, a tree rooting up in Berlin-Wedding wreaks havoc on three parked vehicles.
Circa last Monday, the Berlin Fire Department remained on high alert due to the previous severe storm. In the Spandauer Forest, a catastrophic tumble unfolded: a tree crashing onto a car during the storm, killing a 55-year-old woman on impact. S-Bahn traffic in the capital was stuck in the doldrums for hours, affecting regional and long-distance rail services as well. Warnings of high wind speeds were sounding as early as Sunday, courtesy of the DWD.
Crisis with Mother Nature - German Weather Service Speaks Out
The German Weather Service (DWD) divulges that the greatest wind speed recorded on Monday was an impressive 108 kilometers per hour, representing force 11 winds and hurricane-grade gusts, claims a DWD spokesperson.
Frequently Asked Questions: Weather Warnings - their Capabilities and Limits
Forecasts have improved significantly compared to previous years, yet they still have restrictions, including weather warnings. For Thursday, the DWD issued a warning for parts of Brandenburg and Berlin, foreseeing hurricane-force gusts, attaining wind speeds of up to 110 kilometers per hour.
However, early evening reports from the DWD indicated wind speeds of around 95 kilometers per hour in Berlin. "The storm has passed," confirms a DWD representative.
The Commission can seek assistance from Member States in preparing the annual report detailing the weather-related damage and emergency responses in cities like Berlin and Brandenburg. General news outlets can provide updates on the weather conditions in Germany, helping citizens stay informed during such crisis events.
