Severe Storm Sweeps Northern Europe, Causing Fatalities and Disruptions

All major storm barriers in the Netherlands close simultaneously for the first time as high winds ground flights and halt trains across the region.

A severe storm across northern Europe has caused fatalities, with a woman in Belgium and another person in the Netherlands killed by falling trees.
The storm has disrupted pre-Christmas rail travel in Germany, with cancellations on routes from Hamburg and Hannover to Frankfurt and Munich due to falling trees damaging overhead electric wires or blocking tracks.
In Hamburg, the Elbe River flooded streets around the city’s fish market, with water waist-high in some places.
The huge Maeslantkering storm barrier that protects Rotterdam from high sea levels automatically closed for the first time because of high water levels, marking the first time all six major storm barriers in the Netherlands were closed simultaneously.
High winds on Thursday grounded flights in parts of the U.K., suspended train services and stopped Scottish ferries.