Euro 2024: Germany closes fan zones ahead of major storms

Authorities in Germany have closed a number of Euro 2024 fan zones due to severe weather warnings on Tuesday.

Severe thunderstorms, hail of up to five centimeters in diameter, and gale-force winds were forecast for parts of western and central Germany.

The German Weather Service said that tornadoes were also possible.

The decision affects venues set up for Tuesday's match between Turkey and Georgia in Dortmund as well as fan zones in Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Gelsenkirchen.

"Safety of the visitors is the top priority," said Moritz van Duelmen from Kulturprojekt Berlin.

The fan zone in Leipzig, where the day's other match between Portugal and the Czech Republic will be held, is set to remain open.

Fan events canceled for Dortmund match

In Dortmund, up to 80,000 Turkish fans were expected to pack the fan zones at Friedensplatz and Westfalenpark to watch their national team compete against Georgia.

But due to the weather warning, city authorities said fan events outside the stadium "cannot be held safely."

Authorities asked fans without a ticket to the match to instead watch from home.

"Dortmund has been looking forward to and preparing for a big fan party with tens of thousands of Turkish and Georgian fans in the city. However, the safety of the fans in our city is our priority," said Martin Sauer, Dortmund's representative for Euro 2024.

zc/ab (dpa, Reuters, AFP)