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WEATHER

Lightning leaves 39 hurt in lakeside strike

Thirty-nine people were injured, eight seriously, when lightning struck an outdoor festival in northern Germany on Thursday. Many people were thrown through the air, while others suffered burns.

Published: 10 May 2013 07:35 CEST
Lightning leaves 39 hurt in lakeside strike
Photo: DPA

Around 500 people were at the “Fathers’ Day” bank holiday party in Dabel, east of Schwerin, Mecklenburg, when the lightning struck shortly after midday. It hit not only a tree but also a nearby electricity junction box.

“It was a really great Fathers’ Day party. Then the lightning came,” said Andreas Küster, a volunteer fireman who was there.

“I heard a loud bang. People were falling over and I went running over to help the injured.

“There was panic, hysteria and screaming, everyone was trying to get away.”

The festival was being held in a field on the edge of the Holzendorfer Lake.

Police in Rostock said many people were hurt after being catapulted through the air by the shock, while the effect was probably amplified when the lightning hit the junction box.

Four of the most badly injured were flown by helicopter to nearby hospitals while others were taken by ambulances and fire trucks.

The German Weather Service (DWD) had warned of ‘notable’ weather at lunchtime and then counted 25 lightning bolts in ten minutes from the storm cloud which seemed to have been responsible for the strike at Dabel.

DPA/The Local/hc

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WEATHER

‘Turbo spring’: Germany to see temperatures above 25C

Germany is set for a blast of warm weather in the coming week as the colder spell eases off.

Published: 26 April 2024 16:56 CEST
'Turbo spring': Germany to see temperatures above 25C

“The late winter weather of the past few days with frost and snow is a thing of the past for the time being, and spring will kick into turbo gear over the next few days,” said meteorologist Adrian Leyser from the German Weather Service (DWD) on Friday.

Temperatures are expected to rise sharply over the weekend with plenty of sunshine, forecasters said. In Germany anything above 25C is classed as a summer day. “The summer mark of 25C will be cracked regionally as early as Sunday,” said Leyser.

It comes as snow and hail hit Germany last week, and temperatures fell below freezing in some places.

But showers and thunderstorms are still possible in the west and north of Germany. Maximum temperatures there are expected to reach around 20C. 

According to the DWD, spring will get a little damper on Monday, with a few rain spells.  “However, the next low pressure system over Western Europe is preparing to turn on the warm air jet again from Tuesday,” said the meteorologist.

On Wednesday – which is a public holiday across Germany for International Workers’ Day – temperatures could soar nearer 30C. 

“In the south and east, we are even approaching the 30C mark,” said Leyser. However, the weather will remain “susceptible to disruption”, said Leyser, especially in the west where there is a risk of isolated and sometimes severe thunderstorms.

READ ALSO: What to do on May 1st in Germany

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