Weather
Black ice on German roads and sidewalks
In Berlin, too, sidewalks and streets were partially icy for hours. The fire department spoke of a state of emergency. photo
© Jörg Carstensen/dpa
Drizzle and freezing temperatures are making roads dangerously slippery in parts of Germany. There have been crashes in some places, and in the capital there is now talk of a state of emergency.
Rain on frozen ground has roads and sidewalks in parts of Germany turned into dangerous slides. However, there were no major accidents until the morning.
The German Weather Service (DWD) warned in the morning that there could be widespread slippery conditions, with some noticeable slippery conditions in the northern half. Relaxation can only be expected as the day progresses. Smoothness had already hindered rush hour traffic on Thursday.
According to the warning map, there was an “increased risk of slippery conditions due to freezing rain” in the morning, especially around Berlin, in parts of Brandenburg, Thuringia, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony. The warnings were initially in effect until 10 a.m.
In some regions, meteorologists called for people to avoid unnecessary time outdoors and travel. In addition, disabilities must be expected. The slippery conditions coincided with the warning strike at Deutsche Bahn. Some people have to take the car to get to work because many train connections are canceled.
29-year-old dies in accident
In the Oldenburg district, a 29-year-old driver died in an accident on an icy road. The man drove his car in Prinzhöfte in the direction of Federal Highway 213 on Friday morning, the police said. His car left the winter-slick road and collided with a tree on the side. Then the small car spun and hit another tree on the passenger side. First responders called emergency services and freed the man from the car. The emergency doctor could only determine that the 29-year-old was dead.
Almost 20 accidents in the Hanover region
Pedestrians and drivers had to allow significantly more time. A police spokesman said in the morning that there had been almost 20 accidents in the Hanover region since Thursday afternoon that were related to the weather. Apart from a few minor injuries, there was no major damage.
According to the police, on Autobahn 72 in Saxony near Hartenstein, a car skidded on an icy road and crashed into the central barrier. According to information, no one was injured in the accident on Thursday evening. There were two slightly injured people in a slippery accident on the A70 in Upper Franconia.
In Berlin, sidewalks and side streets were partially icy for hours. The fire department in the capital spoke of a state of emergency on the online platform X on Thursday. According to a fire brigade spokesman, the situation calmed down from 9 p.m. It was still slippery in places in the morning. The police said that the operational situation was initially not unusual.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, freezing rain had already caused major problems in parts of the country on Thursday evening. In Wesel, the Lower Rhine Bridge was temporarily completely closed due to an icy road. On Autobahn 2 in East Westphalia, the Herford/Bad Salzuflen exit was so slippery that the police closed it. In Moers, firefighters reported that they were sometimes unable to get to the scene of an accident because the approach was hindered by other accidents. Ambulances could only drive injured people to the clinics at walking speed.
According to the German Weather Service, pedestrians and drivers must continue to expect slippery conditions today. The forecast said: “During the day, there is still a risk of locally freezing drizzle, especially over the middle. As the day progresses, the icy situation will ease.”