Bad weather continues to cause travel disruption in northeastern Germany. Berlin Airport has been closed due to snow and ice, while many city roads are impassable. One person died after falling into a frozen lake. Shortly before 9 p.m., Berlin/Brandenburg Airport suspended operations as takeoffs and landings were impossible due to the deep freeze. The problems continued throughout the day, with more than 60 flights canceled by midday.

Earlier, a man fell into the frozen Hallensee lake in west Berlin and, although he was rescued by firefighters, later died in hospital. On the A10 motorway, near Potsdam in Brandenburg, 19 people were injured in traffic accidents due to the icy road surface. Public transport is operating with some difficulties, especially on the above-ground parts of the network.

The Federal Meteorological Service (DWD) is also warning of an increasing risk due to a new wave of frost expected to hit the wider Berlin-Brandenburg region overnight and is talking about “high slips due to freezing rain and ice.” Today, after heavy snowfall and freezing rain overnight, most roads were covered in snow and thick ice, but during the day, municipal teams managed to clear most of the road network.

According to the DWD, Berlin experienced its coldest January in 16 years, with temperatures remaining below freezing for weeks, while the extreme conditions led to the use of salt, which had been suspended because it was considered harmful to the aquifer, dogs and trees. However, the special salt is not allowed to be used by private individuals.