Violent Storm in Berlin: Chaos and Casualties Galore
Severe weather brings destruction and serious injury, endangering lives
A fierce storm, nicknamed "Ziros," smacked Berlin and Brandenburg on June 24, 2025, leaving destruction in its wake and claiming lives. A tragic incident occurred in Berlin's Spandau Forest where a victim lost their life after being crushed by a tumbling tree while driving a vehicle[1]. Several others sustained injuries, some critical, including a cyclist who got struck by a falling tree, and individuals who were hurt by plummeting branches in various Berlin areas[1].
The storm made transportation a headache. Urban transport in Berlin and Brandenburg was shaken up when branches fell, hampering S-Bahn services as well as affecting long-distance and regional train routes, such as the significant Berlin-Hamburg corridor which was briefly shut down but was reopened by nightfall[1]. The airport in Berlin also grappled with flight delays and cancellations due to the intense thunderstorms stemming from the storm system[2].
Restoration efforts are underway, with rail services gradually being restored under limitations, as clearance and repair work on railway infrastructure continues[1]. Emergency responders attended to incidents caused by fallen trees, even airlifting critically wounded individuals to hospitals[1]. The recovery of public transport is ongoing, and authorities persistently monitor and manage the resulting transport delays and cancellations caused by the storm-related devastation[1].
Bravening the storm, the Technical Relief Agency (THW) mobilized approximately 360 personnel for their operations in Berlin, Brandenburg, and at times, Saxony-Anhalt. Alarmingly, Berlin had experienced a previously devastating storm just a few days prior, which resulted in a fatality and three severe injuries[1]. The city authorities and weather services attributed the tree susceptibility to storm damage to their dense summer foliage, providing the storm's gusts with more surface area to target[1]. Additionally, the capital's senate pointed to vitality losses following several years of drought as a contributing factor.
havoc, car damage, trains halted. The storm's repercussions lasted until today, Friday.
As the violent thunderstorms, rain, and strong winds whipped through eastern Germany in the evening, four unfortunate souls were injured, some critically, by falling trees in Berlin and Brandenburg. According to the authorities, more than 3,000 trees were uprooted in the capital city causing a staggering amount of fire department call-outs. The storm took a severe toll on traffic, significantly disrupting rail and road mobility.
In Potsdam, the Brandenburg state capital, a tree branch snagged a man and a woman as they cycled through the New Garden. Based on police reports, the 57-year-old woman was critically hurt, while the fellow cyclist and man of the same age suffered severe injuries. Both were rushed to the hospital, and fortunately, the woman's condition improved and she was no longer critical. Rumors that the woman had passed away were later retracted due to a transmission error, thankfully.
Berlin saw at least two more individuals seriously injured by fallen trees, both in the Reinickendorf district. In one incident, a car was involved as well. The fire department dispatched more than 760 storm-related assignments in the capital city, mainly in response to the vast quantity of uprooted trees and massive branches that snapped.
Cleanup in Berlin: A Lengthy Task
The firefighters worked tirelessly to reinstate pathways, summarizing the effort as a laborious ordeal. Some rooftops were devastated by the storm too. The city administration reported that thousands of uprooted and smashed trees littered western Berlin's forests, making many paths inaccessible. Cleanup efforts are expected to carry on for weeks, and several forest areas have been temporarily closed due to safety concerns.
- Storm
- Ziros
- Casualties
- Injuries
- Berlin
- Brandenburg
- Tree fall
- Transportation disruptions
- Weather collapse
- Public transport recovery
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- Uprooted trees in Berlin
- Storm damages campsite in Saxony-Anhalt
- Storm
- Potsdam
- Police
- Fire department
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The latest severe storm, named "Ziros," swept through Berlin and Brandenburg on June 24, 2025, causing significant damage and casualties. One person died after a tree fell on a moving car in Berlin's Spandau Forest, and several others were injured, some critically, including a cyclist struck by a falling tree and individuals hurt by falling branches in different areas of Berlin[1].
The storm severely disrupted transportation. Urban railway traffic in Berlin and Brandenburg was partially paralyzed due to fallen branches, with long-distance and regional train services affected, including the important Berlin-Hamburg route which was temporarily closed but reopened by early evening. S-Bahn (suburban railway) traffic resumed the following morning but continued to face delays and cancellations on almost all lines except the Ringbahn and line S47[1].
Berlin Brandenburg Airport also experienced flight disruptions with 105 delays and 6 cancellations caused by the heavy thunderstorms related to the storm system[2].
Regarding recovery efforts, rail services were restored with limitations, indicating ongoing clearance and repair work on railway infrastructure. Emergency services responded promptly to incidents caused by fallen trees, including airlifting critically injured individuals to hospitals. Restoration of public transport is ongoing, and authorities continue to monitor and manage delays and cancellations resulting from storm damage[1].
In summary, the storm "Ziros" has resulted in fatalities, injuries, significant transport disruptions in Berlin and Brandenburg, and ongoing recovery efforts focus on restoring rail services and managing emergencies caused by the severe weather[1][2].
- The Commission has requested to propose a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, given the recent storm incidents in Berlin and Brandenburg.
- The repercussions of the violent storm, named "Ziros," persist as clean-up efforts carry on for weeks, and various transportation services continue to experience delays and cancellations due to the storm-related devastation.
