A person died when a tree fell onto a car in the storm over Schleswig-Holstein. The accident occurred on Friday afternoon on the island of Fehmarn, a police spokesman said.
In the first big storm of autumn, easterly winds drive the water with hurricane-force gusts thunderously against beaches and cliffs, into bays and fjords and flood harbors and streets. Branches fall onto cars and tracks, causing closures and disruptions.
The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) expected the storm surge to peak on Friday evening. In Flensburg, the water reached a level of more than two meters above normal, according to the storm surge information map from the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of the Environment. For Flensburg, this is the highest water level in more than 100 years. In Eckernförde the water level was 1.91 meters and in Neustadt it was 1.74 meters compared to the mean water level.
According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the storm should slowly subside during the night.
Schleswig-Holstein’s Prime Minister Daniel Günther thanked all those who helped. “This is a challenging situation and I am very grateful to all the helpers who are currently on duty,” said the CDU politician. “The police, fire brigade, THW and the employees of the State Office for Coastal Protection are committed to keeping the situation under control, and they are succeeding.”