bad weather - Lightning strike, power outage and accidents due to thunderstorm
Massive thunderstorms with heavy rain caused not only flooded basements but also severe injuries. Fire department and Police were deployed in various locations.
Lightning strikes family
At a park in Delmenhorst, Lower Saxony, eight members of a family were injured when they were sitting under a tree during a lightning strike. A five-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl were revived and taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the police. The 38-year-old mother, her 40-year-old husband, a two-year-old girl, a nine-year-old daughter, a twelve-year-old son, and a 31-year-old relative were also taken to hospitals.
Heavy thunderstorms in the southwest of Lower Saxony
The southwest of Lower Saxony also experienced severe thunderstorms with heavy rain. According to a meteorologist from the German Weather Service (DWD), some areas received approximately 29 liters per square meter per hour. The DWD reports that it will be slightly cooler and unsettled in the region.
Thunderstorm over Quickborn
A city in Schleswig-Holstein was particularly affected: In Quickborn in the Kreis Pinneberg, there were over 200 fire department interventions. The thunderstorm in the early evening brought a lot of rain and strong winds, according to the Kreisfeuerwehrverband. At some incident sites, people were temporarily trapped by the water. Some thunderstorm victims took refuge in the main fire station Quickborn. Between times, there was a large-scale power outage.
Flooded cellars
In parts of Hesse, the police and fire department were repeatedly called out. In the Kreis Kassel, according to police reports, there were flooded cellars, uprooted trees, and flying objects. In Söhrewald, a tree fell on a house, making it uninhabitable. There were no injuries reported here. On the A4 near Fulda, the highway was closed for approximately two hours due to extreme flooding near Gerstungen. As a result, a four-kilometer traffic jam formed.
Over 60 interventions in Bremen
The Bremen Fire Department reported more than 60 interventions on Sunday evening due to the heavy rain. In most cases, the fire department had to pump out flooded basements.
Accidents on wet roads
There were two accidents on the wet roads of the A2 in North Rhine-Westphalia. In both cases, aquaplaning occurred, as the police reported, because the drivers were driving too fast. One man was seriously injured, and another man was lightly injured.
- The power outage caused by the thunderstorm in Delmenhorst resulted in temporary darkness, making it challenging for the emergency services to operate effectively.
- Hospital staff in Delmenhorst worked tirelessly to treat the numerous injury victims from the lightning strike and subsequent thunderstorm.
- The unfavorable weather conditions, including the thunderstorm, had led to a surge in emergency calls, straining the resources of hospitals and emergency services in the region.
- The family's rushed evacuation from the lightning-struck tree was aided by quick-thinking bystanders who helped shelter them from further harm before the emergency services arrived.
- The weather report for Germany predicted more thunderstorms and heavy rainfalls for the following days, causing concern among the authorities and the public.
- The local police in Quickborn reported that the thunderstorm had disrupted the city's communication and traffic systems, making it difficult to coordinate emergency responses.
- In Lower Saxony, the Red Cross and community volunteers played a crucial role in assisting the police and fire department by providing temporary shelters and emergency supplies to those affected by the weather and power outage.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his condolences and support to the family and the city of Delmenhorst, acknowledging the severity of the lightning strike incident.
- The Fire Department in Delmenhorst commended the quick response of their team during the emergency, highlighting their dedication to protecting the community despite the challenging weather conditions.
