One killed, 40 injured, as tornado hits Germany
- The storm swept through the western part of the country, blowing away roofs, toppling trees and sending debris flying
- Train services were disrupted and roads were blocked, and hundreds of basements were flooded
A tornado buffeted western Germany on Friday, killing at least one man and injuring some 40 people, 10 of them seriously.
The 38-year-old man in the far-western town of Wittgert died of head injuries sustained when he fell after suffering an electric shock in a flooded cellar, local media quoted police as saying.
The storm swept through the western German city of Paderborn, injuring dozens of people as it blew away roofs, toppled trees and sent debris flying, authorities said.
Meteorologists had warned that heavy rainfall and hail were expected in western and central Germany on Friday, with storms producing wind gusts up to 130km/h (81mph).
Storms on Thursday had already disrupted traffic, uprooted trees that toppled onto rail tracks and roads, and flooded hundreds of basements in western Germany.
Paderborn police said 43 people were injured in the storm that hit the city. Thirty were being treated in hospitals and 10 of those were seriously injured.
