Stormy Holiday in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: "Zoltan" Wreaks Havoc
The festive season in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern took a turn for the stormy as "Zoltan" hit the region, bringing down trees, disrupting traffic, and causing several last-minute headaches.
Despite thestorm warning being lifted on Friday afternoon, the north-east remained battered by gale-force winds. The Christmas market in Rostock, however, pushed on, with rides starting up again and stalls reopening for the market's final hurrah. An anticipated traditional carol singing session at the Ostseestadion was canceled, but the show must go on.
Christian Pegel, the SPD Minister of the Interior in Schwerin, paid tribute to the emergency services, praising their commitment and dedication which allowed the citizens of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to feel safe even amidst the stormy festivities.
As stormy winds wreaked havoc, buildings were damaged, roads blocked, and power cuts plagued the affected areas. Minster Pegel announced a damage report would be published soon, highlighting the extent of the destruction.
Deutsche Bahn continued to face problems with overhead lines damaged by fallen trees. For instance, the RE5 line between Stralsund and Berlin faced initial disruptions, preventing trains from running between Grimmen and Demmin. Residents in the greater Rostock area celebrated the relief of repairs by Friday evening. In contrast, Odeg warned of rail service restrictions due to the storm's damage in the Rostock area.
Rostock's streetcars were affected by overhead line damage, leading to Grandelijke Straßenbahn AG rerouting streetcars to turn around in front of Barnstorfer Wald until January 2nd. The nearby Rostock Zoo, along with the Stralsund Zoo, remained closed due to the storm's aftermath.
The police reported three accidents from fallen trees in the northern Vorpommern-Greifswald district alone by midday Friday. In one instance, a tree hit a car's hood near Hinrichshagen, while cars had to swerve to avoid obstacles near Bandelin and Dargelin. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in any of the incidents.
Drivers were advised to use lower-lying Rügen Dam instead of the Rügen bridge, as disruptions and diversions continued to impact traffic throughout the region. The districts of Vorpommern-Rügen, Vorpommern-Greifswald, and Northwest Mecklenburg recorded storm-related disruptions, with Vorpommern-Rügen reporting approximately 290 calls and Vorpommern-Greifswald recording more than 150 by midday Friday.
The ferry service between Rostock and Gedser in Denmark restored operation shortly after Friday afternoon, but ferries to Hiddensee and the Warnow ferry in Rostock were suspended for the day. The German Weather Service predicted heavy squalls and significant winds for the coastal area west of Rostock up to and including Rügen on Saturday, with potential temperature drops of three to five degrees.
In the spirit of cooperation, drivers of large vehicles like trucks and caravans were asked to use lower-lying Rügen dam instead of the Rügen bridge between Stralsund and Rügen. As always, be prepared, be safe, and enjoy the holidays.
Details from the German news outlet Stern, approximately 15% of the content.
