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Huge storms sweep northern Europe Huge storms sweep northern Europe
(about 1 hour later)
At least 17 people have been killed as violent storms lashed northern Europe, causing travel chaos across the region. At least 25 people have been killed as violent storms lashed northern Europe, causing travel chaos across the region.
Britain was the worst hit with nine people killed as rain and gusts of up to 99mph (159km/h) swept the country.Britain was the worst hit with nine people killed as rain and gusts of up to 99mph (159km/h) swept the country.
Hurricane-force winds battering Germany have claimed at least three lives. The other deaths were reported in the Netherlands and France. Hurricane-force winds battering Germany have claimed at least seven lives. The other deaths were reported in France, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.
The severe weather has forced hundreds of flight, rail and ferry cancellations and prompted road and school closures.The severe weather has forced hundreds of flight, rail and ferry cancellations and prompted road and school closures.
The first fatality was reported in Shropshire, England, where a 54-year-old man died after his car was crushed by a falling branch. Three other people died on the roads in the UK. Meteorologists at London's Met Office said the winds reached "severe gale force" as they crossed Britain and were the highest recorded since January 1990.
A two-year-old boy also died when a wall collapsed on him in the capital, London. They warned the weather system would intensify as it moved east across the continent - with Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany expected to be worst hit overnight.
One man was killed on a road in south-western Germany when he crashed into another vehicle as he tried to avoid a fallen tree, police said. class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6275939.stm">In pictures: Europe lashed
In Bavaria, a 73-year-old man was killed when he was struck by debris. In Munich, an 18-month-old child died after being crushed by a door that blew off its hinges. Winds of almost 105mph (170km/h) were recorded late on Thursday in Germany, prompting the national rail company to suspend all its services, leaving passengers stranded.
Three people were killed by falling trees in the Netherlands, and one person was killed the same way in Roubaix, France. A 30-year-old man was also killed in a motoring accident in the Somme. The head of German railways said the situation was unprecedented. Air traffic too has been badly affected with many flights cancelled. There has also been reports of flooding.
German meteorologists said the storm was shaping up to be the worst in five years and authorities have warned people to stay indoors.
More than 40,000 volunteers are on standby to help the fire brigade deal with the widespread damage that is anticipated.
Among the casualties so far is an 18-month-old child in Munich crushed to death by a door blown from its hinges.
Many of the fatalities across Europe were the result of traffic accidents and falling debris. In London a two-year-old boy also died when a wall collapsed on him.
'Stay indoors''Stay indoors'
At the peak of the storms, tens of thousands of homes across the UK were left without power. Tens of thousands of homes are reported to be without power.
In Germany, the national rail company, Deutsche Bahn, suspended all its services late on Thursday. class="" href="/1/hi/england/cornwall/6274625.stm">Stricken crew rescued In the Netherlands, as in Germany, people have been advised to stay indoors.
Earlier German radio said more than 40,000 volunteers were on standby to help the fire brigade deal with the widespread damage that was anticipated.
People in Germany have been advised to stay indoorsLow-lying areas of northern Germany are preparing for possible flooding.
In the Netherlands, as in Germany, people have been advised to stay indoors.
"Our country has not had a storm like this in years. We advise you to follow weather alarms and messages to the letter," the Netherlands' Royal Weather Service said."Our country has not had a storm like this in years. We advise you to follow weather alarms and messages to the letter," the Netherlands' Royal Weather Service said.
Austria forecast winds of up to 105mph (170km/h) at higher altitudes in the Alps, and officials warned skiers to get off the mountains and seek shelter well before nightfall. Austria has forecast winds of up to 105mph (170km/h) at higher altitudes in the Alps, and officials warned skiers to get off the mountains and seek shelter before nightfall.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • A British container ship is listing in the English Channel almost 50 miles (80km) off Cornwall - all 26 crew of the MSC Napoli abandoned ship
  • A British container ship is listing in the English Channel almost 50 miles (80km) off Cornwall - all 26 crew of the MSC Napoli abandoned ship
  • US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cuts short her visit to Berlin in order to leave for London before weather worsened
  • US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cuts short her visit to Berlin in order to leave for London before weather worsened
  • London's Heathrow Airport, Europe's largest, cancels 123 flights. Other major airports including Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam and Vienna report delays and cancellations
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  • London's Heathrow Airport, Europe's largest, cancels 130 flights. Other major airports including Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam and Vienna report delays and cancellations
  • Ferries are cancelled or delayed in Britain, Ireland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Finland - where minor floods are reported near Helsinki
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  • The Eurostar train service between Paris, Brussels and London is briefly suspended
  • Residents along the North Sea coast are warned to expect storm swells up to 3.5m (11.5ft) higher than normal
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  • Ferries are cancelled or delayed in Britain, Ireland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Finland
  • Traffic on the Eurostar, the train service connecting Britain with continental Europe, is suspended after an electrical cable holder fell onto tracks near the French city of Lille
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  • Residents along the North Sea coast are warned to expect storm swells up to 3.5m (11.5ft) higher than normal
    • Are you in the areas affected by the heavy storms? How are you preparing for them? Send us your experiences using the form below:Are you in the areas affected by the heavy storms? How are you preparing for them? Send us your experiences using the form below:
    If you have any pictures of the storms you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.ukIf you have any pictures of the storms you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk
    Please do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.Please do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
    Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and videoClick here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video
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