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Black Ice Sweeps Berlin and Northern Germany, Triggering Hundreds of Crashes and One Death

Forecasters warn the freeze–thaw setup could extend hazardous travel into the New Year.

Overview

  • The national weather service issued a black‑ice alert for Berlin through late Saturday morning, and the fire brigade reported roughly 80 ice‑related deployments overnight with demand still elevated.
  • Berlin police logged 565 crashes from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning with 20 injuries, while Brandenburg reported about 120 accidents and 19 injured since Friday evening, with totals still preliminary.
  • On the A1 near Wildeshausen, five vehicles collided on an ice‑slick roadway before dawn, injuring 13 people and prompting a mass‑casualty response across multiple districts.
  • Near Fürstenhagen, a 73‑year‑old woman died and two others were seriously hurt in a suspected ice‑related collision; prosecutors ordered vehicle seizures and an expert reconstruction.
  • Disruptions included a temporary halt to bus service in Potsdam and widespread road salting, as authorities urged slow travel, cautious walking and avoidance of nonessential trips.