Strong winds battered northern and central Europe on Sunday, killing two people in Poland, two in the Czech Republic and one in Germany.<br /><br />Rail traffic in large sections of Germany will be suspended into Monday.<br /><br />Winds reached more than 100 kph in several parts of the Czech Republic and topped 180 kph on Snezka, the country’s highest mountain.<br /><br />What happened?<br /><br />The victims in Poland and the Czech Republic were killed by falling trees. The storm also knocked out power to thousands of Czechs and Poles.<br /><br />The Bild newspaper reported that a 63-year-old German man drowned at a campsite in Lower Saxony as a result of a storm surge.<br /><br />“Significant damage”<br /><br />In Germany, railway operator Deutsche Bahn cited what it called “significant damage” on main routes. It said rail traffic on many routes in northern and central Germany would remain suspended until Monday.<br /><br />The decision left thousands of travellers stranded and cut rail access to cities like Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin, Hanover and Kiel.<br /><br />The closures also affect popular routes such as from Frankfurt to Berlin and Dortmund to Hamburg.<br /><br />What happened in the Czech Republic?<br /><br />The winds felled many trees. One man died after being hit on a sidewalk in a town in the north of the country. A woman was also reportedly killed.<br /><br />The weather delayed or halted traffic on several railway lines and slowed road traffic. <br /><br />Prague Zoo closed because of the winds. However, Praque Airport remained open.<br /><br />What about Poland?<br /><br />A pipeline was damaged at the liquified natural gas terminal in the port of Swinoujscie.<br /><br />A spokesperson for Gaz-System, the pipeline operator, said there was a small leak but no greater damage.<br />
