After deadly storm: Cleanup begins in Germany

A man died and several people were injured after severe thunderstorms battered Germany overnight, leaving a trail of destruction. In the Saxon Switzerland region, a man was killed in Rathen when a tree fell on him, according to police. Ten other people sustained injuries, and 40 individuals were safely evacuated from the affected area.

Emergency services described the scene as chaotic in the darkness, with the full extent of the damage only becoming clear with daylight. The mountain rescue service deployed drones to search for people trapped in the rocky terrain. A spokesperson for the service noted it appeared to be a highly localized but intense storm cell, causing landslides and felling multiple trees into the valley.

Southern Germany also experienced the storm's fury. In Stuttgart, heavy thunderstorms and high winds toppled numerous trees, damaging cars, power lines, and roads. Several underpasses were flooded, leading to approximately 50 emergency calls. The fire department reported that fallen trees disrupted public transport and blocked access to a hospital.

Meanwhile, the Hamburg fire department reported around 85 incidents related to heavy rain between 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM, along with twelve calls concerning precarious structures like fences and roof tiles. These incidents were reportedly manageable, and no injuries were reported in Hamburg. The planned performance of "The Little Horror Show" at the Felsenbühne in Rathen was canceled due to the severe weather and the ongoing rescue operations.