Seven die in German storms
Flash thunderstorms that lashed northeastern Germany with winds up to 95 mph left seven people dead and forced an airliner to make an emergency landing.
Berlin Fire Chief Albrecht Broemme said last night’s storm was the worst in 20 years, toppling more than 1,000 trees in capital during its brief but fierce passage.
Two youngsters, aged 12 and 15, were killed when a tree fell on their tent on an island in Berlin’s Wannsee lake.
Another teenager in neighbouring Brandenburg state was killed when he was struck by a piece of roofing that was torn from a shed; four adults in the region also were killed by falling trees and branches.
A Swiss plane carrying 20 people from Basle to Hamburg was forced to make an emergency landing at a military airfield 40 miles from Berlin after the storm closed down Hamburg and three alternative airports in Berlin.
None of the 16 passengers and four crew was injured, but the twin turboprop aircraft was damaged when it hit obstacles on the runway during landing.
