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Deadly storms sweep northern Europe
"Unprecedented" storms have killed at least 27 people across the continent.
Last Modified: 19 Jan 2007 08:03 GMT
Winds of up to 184kph swept from the UK to the Czech Republic [AFP]

Gale force winds and heavy rain have hit northern Europe, killing 27 people and disrupting travel for tens of thousands.
 
The storms on Thursday were among the fiercest in northern Europe in years, ripping off part of the roof at Lord's cricket ground in London, toppling trucks on Europe's busiest roads and forcing trains to a standstill.
Ten deaths were reported in the UK, including a two-year-old boy hit by a falling brick, while seven people died in Germany, four in the Netherlands, three in the Czech Republic, one in France and two in Belgium.
Eurostar International trains between France, Britain and Belgium came to a halt and helicopter rescuers winched 26 sailors to safety when their container ship began to sink in the English Channel.
 
Most ferry sailings to Britain and France were called off.
 
Rotterdam, Europe's busiest port, suffered disruption to shipping after the storm caused an oil spill at a terminal when a drifting container ship bumped into an oil jetty. The ship leaked 10,000 barrels of oil.
 
In Ireland and Latvia, winds kept rescue crews from helping other ships damaged or missing after storms earlier in the week: seven fisherman from Ireland, Poland and Ukraine are missing and presumed dead off Ireland's coast, while Latvian rescuers were unable to attempt to salvage a Greek-owned cargo ship that ran aground on Tuesday off the Baltic port of Ventspils and has been leaking oil.
 
Berlin's new central train station was evacuated after winds ripped a steel support weighing several tonnes from the facade.
 
Train stations were closed across London and London's Heathrow airport, Europe's largest, canceled 280 flights.
Source:
Agencies
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