In pictures: Storms batter Germany
Violent storms have swept across western Germany, leaving a trail of destruction and several people dead.
Strong winds and heavy rain pounded the state of North-Rhine Westphalia after days of scorching temperatures. Thousands of trees were uprooted, like here in Gelsenkirchen.
A cyclist in Cologne was killed by a falling tree that police said was probably struck by lightning. This bolt of lightning struck in Sieversdorf.
In Neuss, near Duesseldorf, many cars were damaged by falling trees.
Roofs were ripped from buildings and public transport has been badly hit. Some flights also had to be diverted.
In the city of Duesseldorf, roads were blocked by fallen trees and there was damage to overhead power lines. Forecasters have issued weather warnings for regions to the north-east, including Hanover and Bremen.