Huge storm over Oberhavel: 94 missions and roof fire in Velten!

Huge storm over Oberhavel: 94 missions and roof fire in Velten!

A violent storm raged over Oberhavel today and caused massive damage. The Oranienburg fire department recorded an impressive 94 missions, which is a drastic increase compared to just 15 missions during the previous storm. The storm brought downed trees, flooded streets and even a roof fire in Velten, which was caused by a lightning strike. Fortunately, there were no injuries and the affected house remains habitable, reports Märkische Allgemeine.

The districts of Friedrichsthal and Bernöwe in particular were hotspots for fire brigade operations, with many broken trees and temporary traffic blockages. The village road (L17) in Schwante was completely flooded, while the Spandauer Landstrasse between Nieder Neuendorf and Spandau had to be completely closed due to fallen trees. Around 20 cars were “locked” between the trees, so the police had to act quickly. The North Police Department reported a total of 42 operations, most of which were used to secure fire brigade operations.

Special incidents

The roof structure fire broke out in Velten around 7 p.m. Luckily, the fire department was able to put out the fire quickly before it could spread further. The overall extent of the damage is considerable, and despite intensive efforts, many sites could not be completely repaired. The Technical Relief Agency (THW) coordinated the forces with the local fire brigades and the Potsdam control center, while no further weather-related operations were reported in the communities of the Gransee office late in the evening.

S-Bahn traffic in Berlin had to be stopped for some time around 6:20 p.m. The lines S1 from Oranienburg, the S8 from Birkenwerder and the S25 from Hennigsdorf were affected. These interruptions continued until late in the evening. Anyone who wanted to take the train today probably had less luck and had to resort to other means of transport. To counteract this weather situation, travelers should obtain up-to-date information about S-Bahn connections.

Similar storms in the region

Similar severe weather events were also recorded in other parts of Germany. A thunderstorm front with enormous amounts of precipitation raged in East Hesse on August 17, 2023. The region's fire brigades had numerous operations there, but fortunately there were no injuries. Meteorologist Oliver Reuter described the situation as a strong thunderstorm front. In addition to the high water levels in the Vogelsberg district, lightning strikes represent a recurring risk, as illustrated by a lightning strike in Alsfeld-Reibertenrod, which led to a fire that was quickly extinguished. Such weather events challenge emergency services on various fronts, including in terms of traffic safety.

Those interested can find current data on lightning strikes and other weather information on the website Lightning detection to stay up to date.

Overall, it can be said that today's storm in Oberhavel not only challenged the fire brigade and police, but also posed major challenges for the residents. The clean-up work will take some time, while everyone involved will have to rely on a good hand in dealing with this force of nature.