At least seven people died and others were injured when a storm swept through Berlin and surrounding areas overnight.
Winds reached more than 150 kilometres (90 miles) per hour.
Among the dead were two boys, aged 12 and 17, who were killed by falling trees while camping on Wannsee island, southwest of the German capital.
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At least six other children were also injured at the same spot as a tornado swept through their campsite.
A man was killed by a falling tree in Reinickendorf, and an 18-year-old man was killed in Potsdam in the state of Brandenburg when a tree fell on him as he sought shelter.
In the town of Storkow a 45-year-old cyclist, also seeking shelter under a tree during the storm, was killed by falling branches.
In Seelow, a 25-year-old driver was killed when a tree fell on his car while four other occupants of the car were seriously injured.
The storm was reported to be the most violent to hit the region in 30 years with at 1,200 trees in Berlin uprooted by strong winds and many buildings damaged.
Emergency services received more than 2,000 calls for assistance. Witnesses reported that during the storm, people were hanging on to telegraph poles.
"It's a real battlefield," said an emergency services spokesman.
While the weather forecast had predicted strong winds but nobody had expected such a fierce storm, the spokesman said.
Berlin airport was also closed to traffic for 30 minutes during the storm.
AFP