The storm that swept through Germany on Friday left at least one dead, nearly 60 injured and considerable damage mainly in the west of the country, according to a report updated on Saturday May 21 by local authorities. In Rhineland-Palatinate, a 38-year-old man died following suffering an electric shock when entering a flooded cellar and falling on his head, Koblenz police reported.
North Rhine-Westphalia was also particularly affected: a tornado crossed Paderborn causing 43 injuries, including ten seriously, said the police in this city of around 150,000 inhabitants. Thirty of them were being treated in hospital, a woman is “in mortal danger”, she detailed.
The police assessed at “few millions” euros “ravages” caused by the tornado. The bad weather, which occurred following several days of abnormally high temperatures for the season in the country, caused extensive damage in this region of western Germany. Several videos broadcast on social networks testify to the violence of the phenomenon.
Tornado view from Höxter on Lütmarschen @sturmwetter1703 @Kachelmannwettr @DWD_presse @Tornadoliste @tornadomap_org @MichaelHutter6 pic.twitter.com/xtCN6Rpojr
– Nils (@ Aturex420) May 20, 2022
How awesome! Colleague just sent a video from Paderborn. Uff ey. pic.twitter.com/8XItabVCxM
— 1 flyer dude (@typdertweetet) May 20, 2022
This rare and localized phenomenon also hit the town of Lippstadt, regarding thirty kilometers away, according to a spokesperson for the fire brigade, but without causing any injuries. The steeple of the church in this city was swept away by the violence of the gusts of wind, according to photos published on social networks. The spokesperson reported “roofs torn off, windows shattered and many trees torn down throughout the city”.
Further south, in the Roth region, a wooden hut where hikers had taken refuge collapsed. Fourteen people were injured, including a woman and a child seriously, local police said. The German meteorological services on Saturday lifted most of the storm warnings, warning however of the risk of isolated severe thunderstorms in Bavaria and strong gusts of wind to the east.
