Severe wind storm hits Netherlands
Source: Reuters
(Adds rail, port disruptions) By Anna Mudeva AMSTERDAM, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Gale-force winds and heavy rains hit the Netherlands on Thursday, prompting travel warnings, school closures and forcing flight cancellations in what is expected to be the worst storm in years. Strong winds damaged the arched roof of Amsterdam's Central Station, with falling glass prompting authorities to ban passengers from platforms and stop trains from entering the station, a national rail service spokeswoman said. "Several lines have been closed from the west to the east. Amsterdam Central Station is totally closed, and we expect more lines to be closed in the course of the afternoon," the spokeswoman said. The weather also disrupted shipping at Rotterdam's port, Europe's busiest, and caused an oil spill at one of its terminals when a drifting container ship bumped into an oil jetty. "Such a storm has not been seen in our country for years," the Dutch meteorological office, KNMI, said in a statement. The agency issued a weather alarm, saying wind speed was likely to reach 130 kph later in the day and could easily cause damage. Authorities issued travel warnings and advised people not to drive their cars unless it was absolutely necessary. Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, one of Europe's largest air transport hubs, cancelled dozens of flights by noon as powerful winds forced it to close all but two runways. Portions of major roadways were also closed and more than 30 accidents were reported. Three people were injured when a construction crane fell in Utrecht, while the main post office in the town was shut because of falling roof tiles from neighbouring buildings, Dutch news agency ANP reported. Schoolchildren were sent home in the town of Almere as the wind threatened to blow away the roof of their school. Amsterdam's zoo was also closed due to the inclement weather. (Additional reporting by Nicola Leske and Reed Stevenson)
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