Over a thousand firefighters are battling blazes across Brandenburg.
After the massive storm hit Brandenburg, firefighters are diving headfirst into a substantial cleanup operation. Since Thursday evening, over a thousand fire service deployments have been made across the state, according to regional fire control centers.
In the north and western regions, particularly Havelland, Oberhavel, and Potsdam, firefighters have responded to falling trees blocking roads or rooftops hundreds of times. In Potsdam, a woman was critically injured when a tree branch collided with her and a male cyclist in the Neue Garten. The man also suffered severe injuries.
Unfortunately, as of this morning, fire services had not updated on the woman's condition. Thankfully, no other injuries have been reported.
Cleanup resumes
From the state capital to the northwest, the storm triggered over 450 fire service deployments, a representative from the regional control center informed. "That was quite the whirlwind!" They added that cleanup efforts are still ongoing, especially in the Havelland region, where there are still fallen trees in Falkensee.
In the north, around Oberhavel, cleanup efforts also recommenced this morning. "After a much-needed rest, fire services are back at it," another control center representative stated. Since Thursday evening, they've been called out over 500 times. "Many commuters are still encountering trees obstructing their paths to work, but the number of calls is declining," they added.
The storm left a trail of destruction in Potsdam and its surroundings, including broken trees, damaged buildings, and floods caused by intense rain. Historic buildings like the Saxonhausen memorial also suffered significant damages, with water seeping into the building due to torn tar paper on the roof. The overall damage assessment is still underway, with some estimates for individual sites surpassing 100,000 euros[1][3].
The storm also temporarily disrupted rail and local transportation services[1][3]. Fire departments and emergency teams have been working round the clock to clear the debris and restore infrastructure, though no precise estimate for completing the cleanup has been given[1]. As they continue their tireless work, they're dealing with extensive demand and limited rest.
With the weather forecast indicating dry and warm days ahead[1], let's hope recovery efforts accelerate soon!
Firefighters are still dealing with numerous accidents caused by the storm, particularly in the Havelland region, where more than 450 general-news incidents have been reported, including broken trees, damaged buildings, and fallen trees blocking roads. In Potsdam, a woman was critically injured when a tree branch collided with her and a male cyclist in the Neue Garten, while cleanup efforts are also ongoing in Oberhavel.
