German storms kill seven

Emergency services handled thousands of distress calls (AFP)

Clean-up operations have begun in Germany after violent thunderstorms overnight swept across the north of the country, claiming the lives of at least seven people.

Two boys who were out camping near a lake in the capital, Berlin, were among the victims.

The others were killed by falling trees in Berlin and the surrounding state of Brandenburg.

The worst storms in decades led to the temporary closure of the city's main airport - Tegel - and the rail link between the capital and the North Sea port of Hamburg.

Winds of 150 km/h (90 mph) brought trees and branches crashing down in the capital and surrounding region.

Streets were strewn with debris, disrupting public transport and causing traffic delays.

Apart from the two boys who died at a campsite, numerous children were injured when a storm hit the Wannsee lake, south-west of Berlin, which is popular for summer recreation.

It's a real battlefield

Emergency services spokesman

Two men were killed in northern Berlin by falling trees while in the surrounding Brandenburg region, branches and debris killed another three people.

Dozens of people were reported injured by flying debris and glass overnight and firefighters said they answered over 2,000 emergency calls for assistance overnight.

The storm was reported to be the most violent to hit the region for 30 years with at 1,200 trees in Berlin uprooted by strong winds and many buildings damaged.

"It's a real battlefield," said an emergency services spokesman.

Bad weather was also reported in other regions of east Germany.