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Hurricane-force storm causes severe disruptions in Germany
Source:Xinhua Published: 2020/2/11 14:15:46
Photo taken on Feb. 10, 2020 shows the damaged roof of the cathedral in Frankfurt, Germany. The cathedral in Frankfurt was damaged when the jib of a building crane torn down by hurricane-force winds buckled and crashed into the roof of the cathedral. Storm Ciara, known as Storm Sabine in Germany, swept over Germany and caused severe disruptions to road, rail and air traffic over the past two days. (Xinhua/Lu Yang)
Hurricane-force winds and heavy rain swept over Germany and caused severe disruptions to road, rail and air traffic over the past two days.
Germany's National Meteorological Service issued the second highest weather warning level for most parts of Germany on Sunday. Large sporting events were cancelled and many schools remained closed on Monday as a precautionary measure.
The cathedral in Frankfurt was damaged when the jib of a building crane buckled and crashed into the roof of the cathedral.
Railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB) announced on Sunday that long-distance trains were completely stopped for safety reasons "because of the heavy hurricane."
According to DB, several hundred passengers made use of residence trains during the night. It is not clear when trains would run again. DB said that the inspection of the routes would take some time.
Firefighters clean up a trunk blown down by storm in Iserlohn, Germany, Feb. 10, 2020. Storm Ciara, known as Storm Sabine in Germany, hit the country's northwest on Sunday and continued to move south. Forecasters said it is expected to bring winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. (Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/Xinhua)
The General German Automobile Club told Xinhua on Monday that several sections of federal and state roads as well as motorways were still closed because of fallen trees and blocked roads.
There were also delays and flight cancellations on German airports. At Cologne Bonn Airport, more than 80 take-offs and landings were cancelled on Sunday and Monday, a spokesperson of the airport told Xinhua.
At Munich Airport, the second largest airport in Germany, a total of 600 take-offs and landings were cancelled on Sunday and Monday, a spokesperson of the airport told Xinhua.
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