A falling tree killed three people, including a mother and her 10-month-old daughter, during an Easter egg hunt at a residential care facility in northern Germany on Sunday, authorities confirmed.
The incident happened in a forest near Satrupholm in the Mittelangeln area outside Flensburg, a city in northern Germany near the Danish border, about 53 miles from Kiel and roughly 100 miles from Hamburg, during strong winds.
Newsweek reached out to the Flensburg Police Department via email on Sunday for comment.
The Context
The deaths underscore the risks of outdoor gatherings during severe weather. The tragedy occurred at a state-funded facility that supports vulnerable groups, including pregnant women and new mothers, making the loss especially devastating. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether the tree had prior damage or disease that may have contributed to the incident.
What To Know
According to police and the DPA News Agency, around 50 residents and caregivers from a nearby care home were taking part in an Easter egg hunt in the forest when a 100-foot tree fell onto the group at about 11 a.m. local time.
Four people were trapped beneath the tree. A 16-year-old girl and a 21-year-old woman died at the scene despite immediate rescue efforts. The woman’s infant daughter was airlifted to a hospital in Kiel, where she later died from her injuries. An 18-year-old woman suffered serious injuries and was flown to a hospital in Heide, where she underwent surgery. Others in the group sustained minor injuries.
The German Weather Service (DWD) had issued a high wind warning for northern Germany that day, forecasting gusts between 34 and 40 mph, with possible gusts nearing 50 mph in exposed areas. Investigators are working to determine whether the wind alone caused the tree to fall or if pre-existing damage or disease also played a role. Officials have notified the state forestry department.
Emergency counselors were sent to assist others in the group.
What People Are Saying
Regional Governor Daniel Günther, Interior Minister Magdalena Finke, and Youth and Families Minister Aminata Touré shared a joint statement through DPA expressing their shock: “Our thoughts are with the family members of the dead, with the injured, and with everyone who had to experience this terrible occurrence.”
What Happens Next
Police continue to investigate the exact cause of the accident.
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