Strong Storm Stops Travel in Europe

Travel was stunted in Europe on Thursday due to hurricane-force winds that caused loss of power and rail and flight cancellations throughout such countries as Britain, Germany, France, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. Close to 200 flight cancellations by such European carriers as Lufthansa and British Airways yielded stranded passengers, while rail operators Eurostar and London Bridge trains also temporarily ceased operations. No injuries were reported after Berlin's main train station shut down when a two-ton girder fell from the side of a glass façade and onto an outdoor staircase, according to a report by The Associated Press. Other areas were not as spared. Winds gusting up to 126 miles an hour were reported in Germany and such high winds caused falling trees and debris-including a brick wall in London-to result in the deaths of 40 people across the European region. Too, tens of thousands went without power in the Czech Republic, northern France and Austria. By early Friday, most trains and flights were running again.