Eight people including two firefighters have been killed in storm-related accidents as hurricane-strength winds tear across northern Europe.
Both firefighters were helping with clean-up efforts in Germany when they died. Many of those killed, in the Netherlands and in Germany, were hit by falling trees and debris. One died in a collision when his van was blown on to the other side of the road. The storm has now crossed to Poland.
Facing gusts of up to 140 km per hour, Germany cancelled all long-distance services. Many regional services were also cancelled. Flights at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam – one of the busiest in Europe – were briefly suspended and two of its three departure halls were closed after roof plates were blown off the terminal building.
The storm, called Friederike in Germany, crossed the country from west to east before reaching Poland. Meteorologists in Germany where 65,000 homes are reported without power warned people to stay indoors, and many schools are closed. German news website WDR reported that an emergency siren wailed in the city of Duisburg, warning residents that they should stay indoors.
