Severe thunderstorms batter Germany: two teens seriously injured by falling tree, multiple water rescues

A line of severe thunderstorms swept across Germany on Thursday evening and into the night, fuelled by a heatwave that had pushed temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in some areas. The German Weather Service had issued warnings for heavy rain, lightning, and storm-force gusts. The storms toppled trees, sparked a field fire, and triggered multiple water rescues, leaving two teenagers seriously injured.

Two teenagers seriously injured at Möhnesee

The most serious incident occurred at the Möhnesee reservoir in North Rhine-Westphalia. A group of four young people was walking in a wooded area near the shore when a tree toppled in the storm. A large branch struck an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old, causing severe injuries. Police in the Soest district confirmed both were taken to hospital. The accident was first reported by Bild.

Water rescues on northern lakes

In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the storms created perilous conditions on the water. On the Schweriner See, four people on a stand-up paddleboard were blown off course by strong winds; they eventually reached the shore unaided and were unharmed. On the Unterwarnow in Rostock, a 22-year-old man capsized his boat. He managed to get himself out of the water but suffered abrasions and received medical attention. On the Plauer See, two people in a rowboat were caught in the storm and clung to a navigation buoy until firefighters rescued them. Neither was injured.

Roads blocked, vehicles hit by falling trees

Fallen trees and branches caused widespread traffic disruption. In the area covered by the Rostock police headquarters, officers recorded 30 separate cases of roads blocked by uprooted trees or fallen traffic signs. On the B5 highway near Redefin, a tree crashed onto a car driven by a 52-year-old woman; both occupants sustained minor injuries. In the Vorpommern-Rügen district, a falling branch damaged two cars: the first vehicle drove into the branch, which was then flung onto a second car, causing damage estimated at 15,000 euros. Two further accidents involving broken branches resulted in several thousand euros of additional damage, though no injuries were reported.

Urban damage and a field fire

In Celle, Lower Saxony, the thunderstorm loosened roof tiles and blew a sun umbrella onto a rooftop. The fire brigade responded to seven calls, including removing loose tiles that threatened to fall onto a city-centre street and clearing a large branch that had fallen across a road. Streets and paths had to be cleared of debris. In the Prignitz district of Brandenburg, storm gusts brought down trees and branches onto cars, but no one was hurt; the affected areas were mainly in the northern part of the district near the border with Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In Lübstorf, a field caught fire, likely ignited by a lightning strike; firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.

Aftermath

By Friday morning, no fatalities had been reported. Emergency services continued to clear debris and restore normal traffic flow. The storms marked a violent end to a day of extreme heat, with the German Weather Service warning that further thunderstorms remained possible.