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WEATHER

‘Miriam’ wreaks winter havoc

The winter storm “Miriam” created chaotic traffic conditions across Germany on Wednesday, as the military used helicopters to bring food and supplies to the Baltic Sea island of Hiddensee.

Published: 3 February 2010 16:25 CET
‘Miriam’ wreaks winter havoc
Photo: DPA

Many roads in Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and the northern part of the country were closed, as cleaning crews worked against treacherous driving conditions caused by snow and ice. Schools were also shut in Schleswig-Holstein and parts of Lower Saxony.

A military helicopter carrying a tonne of food made its way Wednesday morning to the island of Hiddensee, which has been cut off from the mainland due to ice in the Baltic Sea for several days. A second chopper was expected to carry 60 holidaymakers off the island later in the day. With the island’s icebreaker out of service, the regional authorities are preparing an extended airlift.

The Bureau for Waterways and Shipping (WSA) revealed that it would make no further attempt to clear a path to Hiddensee, because the ice has become so thick that other icebreakers would run the risk of getting stuck in the water.

In Bavaria, heavy snow has also caused many roofs to cave in under the weight. Areas most affected included the Oberpfalz and Lower Bavaria, though no one has been injured. In Memmingen in the Allgäu region, three gym halls were closed as a precautionary measure.

In Attendorn in Saarland, a man was seriously injured in his car, when the roof of a commercial building collapsed nearby on Tuesday evening. Around a total of 100 halls were closed in around Wuppertal.

Snow and black ice presented drivers with massive problems in parts of North Rhine-Westphalia. Between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning there were 751 accidents, which left six people seriously injured and 39 slightly. According to the police, man side roads in particular are still being cleared.

In the Sauerland, the traffic was obstructed by numerous trucks fitted only with summer tyres. As a result, a traffic jam stretched up to 25 kilometres on the A45 motorway. Aid workers distributed blankets and hot drinks to drivers.

Snow, rain and storm also led to considerable disturbances in parts of Saxony-Anhalt. Roads were impassable in the region around Hettstadt, forcing 142 people stuck in their vehicles to be temporarily put up for the night. But a spokesman for the police claimed that the situation had since returned to normal.

In Dannenberg in Lower Saxony a 36-year-old motorist was killed in an accident after the man’s vehicle crashed into a truck on the icy stretch of road.

Meteorologists expect the snow and freezing rain to continue in the southern half of the country heading into Thursday. While the east will remain frosty, the southwest could finally begin to thaw out a little in the coming days.

Click here for The Local’s weather forecast.

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BERLIN

Warning of toxic smoke after fire breaks out at Berlin factory

More than 180 firefighters wearing protective suits were on Friday tackling a major blaze at a metal technology firm in Berlin's Lichterfelde area as authorities warned of toxic smoke.

Published: 3 May 2024 16:35 CEST
Updated: 3 May 2024 18:08 CEST
Warning of toxic smoke after fire breaks out at Berlin factory

The blaze broke out in the first floor of metal technology factory ‘Diehl Metal Applications’ on the Stichkanal in Lichterfelde, south-west Berlin around 10:30 am.

On Friday afternoon, a fire brigade spokesperson said an area of over 2,000 square metres was on fire in the four-storey building.

As of 5 pm, the fire was reportedly still not under control.

According to the spokesman, the fire had spread to the roof, with parts of the building collapsing.

As the company also stores and processes chemicals in various quantities, there are concerns over harmful fumes in the smoke. 

“We can confirm that chemicals are also burning in the building,” said the fire service. “Sulphuric acid and copper cyanide were stored there. There is a risk of hydrogen cyanide forming and rising into the air with the smoke.”

Hydrogen cyanide is a highly toxic substance.

The Berlin state government said that residents “in the affected areas of the toxic fumes caused by the fire” were warned through the NINA warning app at midday.

People walk in the area near the fire in Berlin on Friday. Residents have been urged to stay inside and keep their windows closed.

People walk in the area near the fire in Berlin on Friday. Residents have been urged to stay inside and keep their windows closed. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Soeder

The Berlin fire department also said on X that people in a large area of Berlin and the outskirts, shown on the map in this tweet, should keep their windows and doors closed, turn off air conditioning and avoid smoky areas. People have also been asked to avoid the area. It includes a large part of the Grunewald forest. 

In the immediate vicinity, hazardous substances had been measured. According to a fire and rescue spokesperson, no injuries have been reported. 

A spokesman for Diehl Metall, to which the plant belongs, said on request that the chemicals mentioned were also only kept in small quantities at the plant.

According to the Diehl spokesman, the location is used for electroplating parts for the automotive industry. The Diehl Group is a large arms company; however, no armaments were produced at the Berlin plant, Nitz said.

Emergency response authorities requested the help of the in-house fire brigade from the firm Bayer, which is familiar with fighting against chemical fires, Berlin newspaper Tagesspeigel reported. 

Which areas are most affected?

Pupils and teachers from nearby schools have been sent home as a precaution, while several shops around the site have closed. 

On Friday afternoon, a warning message popped up on many mobile phones with a shrill sound, according to which there is “extreme danger”.

“After evaluating the weather conditions and the corresponding wind direction, the flue gases move from the scene of the incident in a northerly direction,” the fire department told the German Press Agency (DPA).

Flames seen at the fire in Berlin's Lichterfelde on Friday.

Flames seen at the fire in Berlin’s Lichterfelde on Friday. Shops around the area closed. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Soeder

According to the fire department spokesman, however, it was not initially clear at what distance the smoke could still be hazardous to health.

Parents of students at the Fichtenberg-Gymnasium in Steglitz received an e-mail stating that classes had been stopped and all students had been sent home. However, the local Abitur or end of school leaving exams continued with the windows closed.

Surrounding roads were closed while flames leapt into the sky, according to a DPA reporter on site.

A neighbouring supermarket was completely enveloped in white smoke. The surrounding area is a mixture of commercial area, allotments, housing estates and shopping centre. According to eyewitnesses, the smoke appeared to be heading north.

The fire department published a map on which the affected areas are marked. Parts of Spandau, Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf and Reinickendorf, among others, can be seen. People should avoid the affected area and drive around it as much as possible, the fire department suggested. Even if no smoke is visible, windows and doors should remain closed and ventilation and air conditioning systems should be switched off, it said.

In the immediate vicinity of the fire, the police made announcements with a megaphone and called on people to leave the streets, go home and keep windows closed.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established. 

With reporting by DPA, Paul Krantz and Rachel Loxton.

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