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Poland battered by deadly storm Poland battered by deadly storm
(about 3 hours later)
Poland and the Czech Republic are now taking the full force of a storm that has swept northern Europe leaving at least 40 people dead. Poland and the Czech Republic are the latest countries to have been hit by a storm that has swept northern Europe leaving at least 43 people dead.
At least six people were reported killed in Poland as winds of more than 200km/h (124mph) were recorded.At least six people were reported killed in Poland as winds of more than 200km/h (124mph) were recorded.
Germany, the UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands were picking themselves up on Friday after the storm passed.Germany, the UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands were picking themselves up on Friday after the storm passed.
Some services were returning to normal, but thousands of travellers were still stranded and homes left without power. Some services returned to normal, but thousands of travellers were still stranded and homes left without power.
Roads, rail lines and electricity pylons were taken out of action by falling trees, collapsing walls and flying wreckage. Late on Friday, high winds reached Russia and Ukraine, with a pipeline carrying Russian oil to the EU via Ukraine being temporarily shut down after power was knocked out.
The debris also proved deadly. 'Hurricane force'
In Germany, the 11 dead included an 18-month-old baby killed by a door that was ripped off its hinges in Munich, while a 73-year-old man died in Augsburg when a barn door fell on him. Roads, rail lines and electricity pylons have been taken out of action across northern Europe by falling trees, collapsing walls and flying wreckage.
Chart the storm's progressIn mapsChart the storm's progressIn maps
In Germany, the 11 dead included an 18-month-old baby killed by a door that was ripped off its hinges in Munich, while a 73-year-old man died in Augsburg when a barn door fell on him.
Eleven people were killed in Britain, including a two-year-old boy who was crushed by a wall, and the managing director of Birmingham Airport, whose car was hit by a tree.Eleven people were killed in Britain, including a two-year-old boy who was crushed by a wall, and the managing director of Birmingham Airport, whose car was hit by a tree.
Meteorologists said the winds reached severe gale force in Britain and were the strongest there since January 1990.Meteorologists said the winds reached severe gale force in Britain and were the strongest there since January 1990.
They hit hurricane force in Germany, the worst in nearly a decade.They hit hurricane force in Germany, the worst in nearly a decade.
In the Netherlands, an 11-year-old boy was killed in the town of Riel when he was blown into a car, AFP reported. STORM DEATHS Britain: 11Germany: 11The Netherlands: 6Poland: 6Czech Republic: 4France: 3Belgium: 2 class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6280025.stm">Readers' pictures class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6278837.stm">Q&A: Stormy weather class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world">BBC world weather In the Netherlands, an 11-year-old boy was killed in the town of Riel when he was blown into a car, AFP reported.
As the storm moved east on Friday, a Polish crane operator in the southern town of Katowice was reported killed when his machinery collapsed, and another died in Zaborow, near Warsaw, when the roof of his house fell in. As the storm moved east, a Polish crane operator in the southern town of Katowice was reported killed when his machinery collapsed, and another died in Zaborow, near Warsaw, when the roof of his house fell in.
In the Czech Republic a million people faced power cuts. A million households in Germany suffered blackouts and tens of thousands of homes in Poland, Austria, northern France and the UK were also hit. At one point, in the Czech Republic a million people faced power cuts. A million households in Germany also suffered blackouts and tens of thousands of homes in Poland, Austria, northern France and the UK were also hit.
Fallen girder Normal rail operations were resuming in Germany after the entire network was closed down as a precautionary measure for the first time in its history.
Germany was trying to get its rail services back on track after the entire network was closed on Thursday.
STORM DEATHS Britain: 11Germany: 11The Netherlands: 6Poland: 6Czech Republic: 3France: 3 Readers' pictures Q&A: Stormy weather BBC world weather
The disruption came after Berlin's new central station, the biggest rail hub in Europe, was evacuated after the winds tore off a two-tonne steel girder, which crashed 40m (130ft) onto a stairway.The disruption came after Berlin's new central station, the biggest rail hub in Europe, was evacuated after the winds tore off a two-tonne steel girder, which crashed 40m (130ft) onto a stairway.
"No-one was hurt, thank God," said Volker Knauer, a spokesman for the station.
Trains were running again on Friday but "delays are to be expected because the early trains are proceeding cautiously", a spokesman said.
Thursday also saw a dramatic rescue in the English Channel, as rescuers plucked 26 sailors from a lifeboat in big seas after they abandoned their listing freighter.
A coastguard tug has been called to recover the damaged British vessel, said to be carrying hundreds of tonnes of "dangerous" cargo including explosives and unspecified toxins.
The winds are not expected to weaken until they reach Russia and Ukraine, though the effects were already being felt in those countries on Friday, with a pipeline carrying Russian oil to the European Union via Ukraine being temporarily shut down.
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? 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.
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