Storm Xavier leaves trail of destruction across northern Germany

Storm Xavier, which reached speeds of up to 115 kilometers per hour, killed at least seven people. Five of them died in their vehicles. One woman was killed in Hamburg (above) after a tree fell onto her car.

The deadly storm caused a large, heavy crane in the North Sea port city of Wilhelmshaven to fall into the Jade River.

Some of the eyewitnesses in the German capital said Xavier was the most powerful storm they had experienced in years. It uprooted trees as it crossed over, including this one that fell on an entrance to a tram station.

Hundreds of people were stranded in Berlin as their trains were canceled. Deutsche Bahn canceled several long-distance trains in the storm-affected states. Bremen and Hanover airports canceled some international flights.

Emergency services received over 1,000 calls. People were warned to stay indoors as the storm passed.