Huge Storms Ride Roughshod Over Northern Germany, Kill One

At least one person was killed and dozens more were injured after violent storms battered northern Germany; the town of Buetzow was especially hard hit by a destructive tornado.

Violent storms ripped through a number of towns in northern Germany, leaving at least one person dead and dozens more injured; Buetzow was especially hard hit after a destructive tornado battered the town, media reports said.

A woman walks past debris of houses destroyed by a tornado on a street in Buetzow, northeastern Germany, on May 6, 2015

© AFP 2023 / DPA / JENS BUETTNER

Witnesses in Buetzow said that hundreds of trees were ripped up, dozens of cars overturned and roof tiles torn off buildings, including the local hospital, with a matter of minutes when the tornado struck on Tuesday.

#Tornado in the small town of #Bützow earlier today with hook echo just before strike. No fatalities, mayor injured. pic.twitter.com/rZXGwuXszv

— Jörg Kachelmann (@Kachelmann) 5 мая 2015

Buetzow Mayor Christian Grueschow said that the town had suffered "massive damage", with the town hall, a nursing home, a church and a hospital badly hit.

The clear-up was conducted by more than 100 emergency workers, who used two gyms as emergency shelters to accommodate about 300 beds for affected residents.

Strong winds, torrential rain and lightning have caused extensive damage all across Germany's northern areas.

In the nearby port city of Hamburg, one person was killed by falling debris, and at least 30 more were injured.

Tornado has hit Buetzow, town in northeastern Germany. Local media reports 30 injured pic.twitter.com/EhzT65h6KR

— Gregor Peter (@L0gg0l) 5 мая 2015

A wind gust of 101 kilometers per hour was recorded in Bremen, while Geilenkirchen, located not far from the Dutch and Belgian borders, saw gusts clocked at 119 kilometers per hour.

84-mm rainfall was registered in Laage, about 23 kilometers to the southeast of Rostock.

Small town in N. Germany after #tornado some hours ago “@felgenralle:.. #Bützow.. (via Catharina von W. bei FB) pic.twitter.com/t52sCMmkb0”

— AAW Darmstadt e. V. (@AAW_Darmstadt) 5 мая 2015

The storms disrupted traffic across the region as fallen trees blocked roads and rail lines, including the railway line between Hamburg and Luebeck.

Weather forecasters explained that the storms were caused by a cold front that came after a spell of unusually warm weather in northern Germany. More rain, thunder and lightning are expected on Thursday.