Berlin - Two women drowned overnight in the south-western German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg after heavy rains struck the region, police said Tuesday.

One of the victims died while trapped in her car while the second, seven kilometres away, died in the cellar of her home.

A train driver was also seriously injured in the region when his train crashed into a fallen tree on the line. One of his passengers suffered a broken arm, and another was treated for shock.

Rescue services worked through the night to reach people stranded by the sudden flooding. The water was so high on one main road near the town of Juningen that rescue service vehicles could not get through.

Electricity supplies were cut to some towns, and a house burned down after being struck by lightning.

The storms also struck the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse.

Heavy rains have struck repeatedly in southern Germany over recent days following unseasonally hot weather. Northern Germany continued to bask in 30-degree heat Tuesday. (dpa)