Severe weather sparks multiple emergencies in Baden-Württemberg

Severe weather swept through Baden-Württemberg, triggering numerous emergency responses from fire and rescue services across the region. Police reported multiple lightning strikes, traffic accidents, and significant disruptions to road and rail transport.

In the Stuttgart area, a lightning strike hit a railway signal box, causing technical issues that interrupted long-distance train services for approximately two hours. While the S-Bahn was unaffected, the disruption highlighted the impact of the storm on critical infrastructure.

Residential areas also suffered damage. In Bodelshausen, a lightning strike ignited a fire in a house, rendering it uninhabitable despite the swift response of nearly 50 firefighters. A similar incident occurred in Ludwigsburg, where a lightning strike caused a fire in an apartment building. Residents evacuated safely, and the fire was quickly brought under control.

The storm also created hazardous road conditions. On the A5 autobahn near Appenweier, ten people were injured when a car, possibly due to aquaplaning, swerved, collided with another vehicle, the guardrail, and a coach bus. Five of the injured bus passengers required hospital treatment. The accident led to a lengthy traffic jam as vehicles were diverted.

Elsewhere in Baden-Württemberg, fallen branches and dislodged manhole covers were reported in Leonberg. The Reutlingen police headquarters also noted an increase in weather-related calls, though most were not serious.

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The restrictions were a precautionary measure.