Germany news: Powerful storms damage homes, leave 1 dead
Germany is grappling with the impacts of damaging storms after a prolonged dry spell. Meanwhile, a CDU politician in Saxony-Anhalt reportedly donated money to the far-right AfD party. Follow along.
Germany experienced a powerful storm on August 20, 2026, which caused significant damage to homes. Tragically, one person lost their life during the storm. The storm also led to the evacuation of 1,800 residents from the village of Gey in the eastern state of Thuringia due to falling tree branches. Meanwhile, the wildfire in Hürtgenwald, which had been burning for seven days, was finally fully contained after days of tireless effort by 1,800 firefighters from across Germany and beyond.
Although the fire had claimed no lives or property, authorities remained vigilant, with high ground temperatures still prevalent in the eastern front of the blaze. Elsewhere, a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Chicago made an unexpected landing in Glasgow due to a medical emergency on board, resulting in a total of 358 passengers being evacuated.
Additionally, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sparked controversy by suggesting targeted nightly killings in Gaza, drawing condemnation from German politicians, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, who emphasized that Germany should not remain silent over the matter.
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