Deadly storm threatens European tidal surge
LONDON: A fierce storm battered northern Europe Thursday, leaving three people dead or missing, causing mass transport disruption and threatening the biggest tidal surge in decades.
Winds of up to 142 miles (228 kilometres) per hour battered northern Britain while authorities evacuated residents and boosted flood defences in low-lying areas across the region.
Dozens of flights were cancelled or delayed in the Netherlands, Germany and Scotland, while rail services were shut down in several countries and one of Europe´s longest bridges -- connecting Sweden to Denmark -- was to close.
Tens of thousands of homes were also left without power as so-called Storm Xaver tore through the area.
In Scotland, a lorry driver was killed when his vehicle toppled onto a number of cars near Edinburgh, while at least two other people were injured by falling trees, police said.
Two sailors were reportedly swept overboard from a ship 14 miles off the southern Swedish coast on Thursday.
Air-sea rescue services failed to find them.British Prime Minister David Cameron said he had convened a meeting of the government´s emergency committee to ensure necessary measures were being taken.
The biggest fear across Europe was from a storm surge set to hit later on Thursday which will coincide with high tides in many areas.
British authorities said they had evacuated homes in Great Yarmouth, eastern England, and warned that people´s lives could be at risk.
They said it could be the biggest storm surge for 60 years.In the Netherlands -- where 27 percent of the country lies below sea-level -- the landmark Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier has been closed off for the first time in six years.
