A severe storm struck the Saxon Switzerland region in the eastern German state of Saxony on Friday, August 1st, 2026, causing one death and seriously injuring three people, police reported.

According to the Dresden Emergency Services Control Centre, a 38-year-old man was killed near the Felsenbühne open-air theatre in Rathen when a falling tree struck him. Ten other people sustained injuries, and 40 individuals were evacuated from the area.

The Amselgrund valley, a popular hiking destination, along with Lake Amsel, remain closed due to the storm's impact. Emergency services faced challenges working in the darkness, and a police helicopter equipped with a thermal imaging camera was deployed.

The situation on the ground was described as "very unclear" by a police spokesman, who added that a clearer assessment would likely be possible once daylight returned. The Friday evening performance of the musical "Little Shop of Horrors" at the Felsenbühne was cancelled as a result of the storm.

There were no reports of missing persons following the incident.

Sources