Falling tree kills three people during Easter egg hunt in forest in Germany

A tree falls in a forest in the southeast of Flensburg, Germany, on Sunday, April 5, 2026. Daniel Reinhardt/dpa via AP An Easter egg hunt ended in tragedy this Sunday (05) in northern Germany. Three people, including a mother and her baby, died after being hit by a tree while looking for eggs hidden in a forest. According to German police, a tree approximately 30 meters high fell on a group of people in the village of Mittelangeln, near the city of Flensburg, at around 11 am (6 am in Brasília) on Easter Sunday. Why do we celebrate Easter with bunnies and eggs? A 16-year-old teenager and a 21-year-old woman died at the scene. The 21-year-old’s 10-month-old daughter was taken by helicopter to a hospital in the northern German city of Kiel, but later died from her injuries. Another 18-year-old girl suffered serious injuries and was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Heide, where she underwent surgery. Other people suffered minor injuries. A police spokesperson did not provide details on the exact number of people injured. See the videos that are trending on g1 Strong winds According to police information, around 50 residents and caregivers from a social assistance center aimed at pregnant women and young mothers were in the forest looking for Easter eggs hidden in the woods. The tree is believed to have been knocked down by a windstorm. The egg hunt is a variation of the treasure hunt game held at Easter, in which children and adults look for painted or chocolate eggs hidden in gardens, parks or woods. Investigations into the exact cause of the accident are ongoing. It is unclear whether the fallen tree had pre-existing damage or was diseased. The local forestry department has already been informed of the incident, a police spokesperson said. According to the Bild newspaper, more than 80 emergency professionals were at the scene. Witnesses reported seeing colorful Easter eggs scattered around the disaster area. The German Weather Service (DWD) reported that weather conditions on Sunday were stormy in the north of the country. DWD predicted daytime wind gusts ranging from 55 to 65 kilometers per hour, with some winds of around 80 kilometers per hour possible in exposed locations. A chocolate Easter egg lies under a fallen tree in a wooded area southeast of Flensburg, Germany, on Sunday, April 5, 2026. Daniel Reinhardt/dpa via AP

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