Storm Herwart sweeps across Germany, Czech Republic, Poland
German Rail (Deutsche Bahn) halted long-distance trains across much of northern Germany on Sunday because of damage left by the storm that also battered the Czech Republic and Poland.
Main trunk rail routes likely to remain closed until Monday included the links Hamburg-Berlin, Berlin-Frankfurt and Hannover-Dortmund to allow for the removal of fallen trees and track repairs.
The rail concern urged customers to inform themselves before deciding to depart on journeys.
Passengers face long-distance rail delays
Left stranded by the damage were thousands of travelers in cities such as Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin, Hanover, Kiel and Dortmund.
Numerous roads were closed as crews removed fallen trees. Meteorologists warned people out walking to avoid forested areas.
Delayed for two and a half hours was Sunday’s second division football duel (2nd Bundesliga) between Eintracht Braunschweig and hosts Dynamo Dresden.
Deaths reported
Storm Herwart faded in Germany late Sunday after packing winds of up to 176 kilometers per hour (109 miles per hour) and triggering local flash floods and coastal high-water storm surges.
A 63-year-old camper drowned in flood waters that swamped a van parked overnight Saturday along the Jadebusen River in Lower Saxony state.
His brother was rescued by lifeguards but suffered severe chilling or hypothermia.
Falling trees killed at least four people in the Czech Republic and Poland. The Czech news agency CTK said damage to power lines had left hundreds of thousands of households without electricity.
Storm Herwart struck just weeks after Storm Xavier swept across northern Germany, killing seven people.
State of emergency
The Berlin fire brigade declared a state of emergency early Sunday as the storm roared over the German capital. One person was seriously injured when scaffolding from a construction site fell on him.
The Berlin fire brigade said that it had received 100 emergency phone calls between 4 a.m. (0300 UTC) and 7 a.m..
In Hamburg, the Elbe River breached its banks, causing widespread flooding in the inner city area. The city’s famous fish market was closed as a result of the storm.
Hamburg’s famous fish market was closed due to flooding.
Firefighters in the city received 500 calls to deal with emergency situations.
In Oldenswort, 130 kilometers northwest of Hamburg in Germany’s northernmost state of Schleswig Holstein, a historic windmill fell victim to the storm.
Windmill Catharina was built in 1786 and was a huge draw among tourists, who could rent rooms inside the historic structure.
Public transport disrupted
The weather delayed or halted traffic on many railway lines and slowed road traffic across the affected regions.
German Rail’s cancellations affecting links in seven of the country’s 16 states or Länder. It cited “significant damage” on main routes, adding that some train services could remain suspended until Monday.
It offered affected passengers dispensation to swap and extend their tickets.
The Offenbach-based German Weather Service (Deutsche Wetterdienst) warned that behind Herwart a colder air mass would bring snow to elevated areas 600 meters or more above sea level.
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Storm Herwart sweeps across Germany, Czech Republic, Poland
History in ruins
In Oldenswort in Schleswig Holstein, a historic windmill fell victim to storm Herwart. Windmill Catharina was built in 1786 and was a huge draw among tourists, who could rent a room inside the historical structure.
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Storm Herwart sweeps across Germany, Czech Republic, Poland
Under the water
The Elbe River breached its banks in Hamburg, flooding a nearby parking lot. Fire fighters in the city have received 500 calls to deal with emergency situations.
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Storm Herwart sweeps across Germany, Czech Republic, Poland
Berlin: state of emergency
The Berlin fire brigade declared a state of emergency early Sunday as Herwart roared over the German capital. One person was seriously injured when scaffolding from a construction site fell on him.
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Storm Herwart sweeps across Germany, Czech Republic, Poland
Flood of calls
The Berlin fire brigade said it had received 100 emergency phone calls between 4 a.m. (0300 GMT) and 7 a.m. It has requested all volunteer fire fighters to report for duty.
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Storm Herwart sweeps across Germany, Czech Republic, Poland
Public transport disrupted
An information board informs passengers in Berlin about cancelled trains caused by Herwart. Deutsche Bahn has cancelled all trains in seven of the country’s 16 states.
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Storm Herwart sweeps across Germany, Czech Republic, Poland
Trees uprooted
The storm has uprooted several trees in the affected regions. No casualties or injuries have been reported in Germany so far due to falling trees.
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Storm Herwart sweeps across Germany, Czech Republic, Poland
Strong winds in central Europe
Intense winds also battered central Europe, killing two people in Poland and two in the Czech Republic. All four people were killed by falling trees.
ap, ipj/jm (dpa, Reuters, AP)
Article source: http://www.dw.com/en/storm-herwart-sweeps-across-germany-czech-republic-poland/a-41160734?maca=en-rss-en-ger-1023-xml-atom