Lightning strike disrupts sports festival in southern Germany, several injured

Nine people were injured, including one seriously, after a lightning strike hit near a campsite during a handball tournament in southwestern Germany on Friday evening, authorities said.

The incident occurred in Rastatt, Baden-Württemberg, where around 120 teams had gathered for a major sporting event, Caliber.Az reports, citing German media.

The opening of the weekend was disrupted when severe thunderstorms swept across the region, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and lightning.

Police said participants were trying to secure their tents around 11 p.m. local time when a lightning bolt struck in close proximity to the camping area. A 13-year-old was among those injured. Six people were taken to hospital for treatment, while one person sustained serious injuries but is not in life-threatening condition.

Emergency services, including fire crews, paramedics and police, responded with a large deployment and treated victims on site amid torrential rain and storm conditions. Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Severe weather also affected other parts of Germany overnight, with meteorologists warning of potential hail, gale-force winds and further thunderstorms.

In some areas, wind speeds were forecast to reach storm or even hurricane-force levels. The Southside Festival in Neuhausen ob Eck was briefly suspended as a precaution.

By Aghakazim Guliyev