## **Berlin’s EURO fan zones closed due to storm gusts**
Storm gusts brought an abrupt end to the EURO 2021 fan zones in Berlin on Monday, July 5.
Two people sustained minor injuries, and around 70 trees were uprooted or damaged, according to the Berlin fire department. Thankfully, there were no reports of life-threatening injuries.
### **Fan zones closed for safety**
The closures came after the German Weather Service (DWD) upgraded the storm warning in the capital to its highest level. Gusts of up to 85 kilometers per hour (53 miles per hour) were measured at Berlin’s Tegel airport.
The EURO 2021 fan zone at the Brandenburg Gate was closed at around 2 p.m. local time, and the fan zone at the Kulturforum closed at around 3:30 p.m.
**Safety first**
The safety of our visitors is our top priority, said a spokesperson for Berlin’s state senate, which is responsible for the fan zones. We decided to close the fan zones as soon as the storm warning was upgraded to its highest level.
Many of the visitors to the fan zones were disappointed but understanding of the decision to close.
We were watching the Czech Republic game, and it was really exciting, said one fan. But the safety of the crowd is more important.
### **Clean up operations underway**
The Berlin fire department and other emergency services began clean-up operations immediately after the storm passed. As of Tuesday morning, July 6, most of the trees had been cleared and the fan zones were being inspected for damage.
The fan zones are expected to reopen on Tuesday afternoon, July 6, in time for the next round of EURO 2021 matches.
