Torrential downpours inundated basements and streets in the southern part of Germany, causing significant damage.
In southern Germany, a severe storm swept through Hesse, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The storm brought heavy rain, hail, and severe winds, causing visible damage across multiple regions.
In Nuremberg alone, firefighters responded to approximately 100 deployments on Friday evening. Elsewhere, the fire department was in constant operation, dealing with uprooted trees (including at a zoo and cemetery) and water damage in Hattersheim am Main, Haibach, and Bessenbach. A large tree was even removed from the street in Haibach.
The storm also caused flooding in basements and disrupted railway lines in Hesse, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg. In Hattersheim am Main, water damage affected a shopping center, an underpass, and several residential buildings. A tree fell onto a moving tram in Mannheim, damaging the overhead line and the tram, but thankfully no injuries were reported.
In response to the storm, an alternative service with eight buses was set up between Eberbach and Seckach in the Neckar-Odenwald district. DB Regio reported delays and partial cancellations on Twitter due to the closure of the railway line between Zwingenberg in Baden and Mosbach-Neckarelz, caused by storm damage.
The rescue and recovery operations are ongoing. Authorities have advised against traveling to flood-affected areas in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Deutsche Bahn has activated its natural dangers management unit to prepare and respond to the extreme weather impacts, including monitoring and securing railway infrastructure.
The storm also claimed lives, with at least three fatalities and over 40 injuries reported from a train accident caused by a landslide near Ulm in Baden-Württemberg.
The German government has allocated significant investment funds to modernize infrastructure and improve resilience against extreme weather events. The ongoing situation remains dynamic, and the damage is significant, with no specific total monetary damage figure currently available.
In addition to the widespread damage, the storm also affected local infrastructure. A fire station in the Lützelsachsen district in Weinheim was damaged by the heavy rain, and gully covers were removed and later replaced in Haibach due to flooded streets.
Over 40 deployment forces were active at 18 locations in Hattersheim am Main over a period of about four hours. The storm's impact was felt across southern Germany, and the recovery efforts are ongoing.
Scientists are studying the impact of the severe storm that swept through regions including Hesse, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany, noting its effects on the environment and general news. Meanwhile, firefighters in Nuremberg and other areas were deployed to respond to over 100 incidents, dealing with uprooted trees, flooding, and fire damage caused by the storm.
