A lightning strike disabled two railway crossing barriers, effectively splitting a German town in two A German employers’ organization warns against the watering down of government pension reforms Flights at Leipzig/Halle Airport were briefly suspended after an unidentified object was spotted near a runway

Here is a roundup of top stories from and about Germany on Wednesday, August 5, 2026:

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Lightning strike splits town in two

A lightning strike has knocked out barriers at two railway crossings in the Bavarian town of Harburg, effectively splitting the town in two.

Police said the affected roads are the only direct links between the western and eastern parts of Harburg and can no longer be crossed by car.

Residents now face detours of several kilometers, while road crews were working on Wednesday morning to set up alternative routes.

It was unclear when the damage would be repaired. Police said the disruption could continue into the morning rush hour.

A Deutsche Bahn technician has been notified, but repairs may take time because of numerous other weather-related faults.

Until then, the barriers will remain closed.

Police also warned drivers not to use unofficial shortcuts or attempt to drive around the lowered barriers.

Welcome to our coverage

Guten Tag from the DW newsroom in Bonn.

We’ve been enjoying some sunny weather here on the banks of the parched Rhine River, where the water level is at a record low after a long period of dry weather.

That said, parts of Germany have also seen the odd rumble of thunder.

A lightning strike in Bavaria that kept two railroad crossings jammed closed has cut one town in two, forcing drivers to make lengthy detours.

A storm is also brewing over pension reforms, with an employers’ group warning the government not to U-turn on a controversial new policy.

Meanwhile, flights at Leipzig/Halle Airport were briefly suspended overnight after an unidentified object was spotted near one of the runways.

Stay with us here for these stories and more of the things that Germany is talking about today.