"Gale-force winds and heavy rains hit the Netherlands on Thursday, prompting travel warnings, school closures and forcing flight cancellations in what is expected to be the worst storm in years."
- The Amsterdam fire brigade said people out on the streets were in danger from falling roof tiles andbroken tree branches.
- There were severe delays at Schiphol Airport, with both arrivals and departures delayed or cancelled.
- Police in The Hague were investigating a report that someone could have been blown into the sea from a pier in Scheveningen. (легко поверю - меня сегодня просто сбило с ног ветром, коленка болит до сих пор)
- In Utrecht, three people were injured when a crane was blown over onto a building.
- Pumping stations were reported working at full power to prevent flooding of the low-lying polders.
- The rail goods transport company Railion halted all traffic, andone of the main bus companies called on passengers to avoid bus travelas roads were littered with branches.
- Many ferry services were cancelled.
- The Dutch automobile association said the A2 highway, which runs south from Amsterdam through Utrecht to Maastricht, had been flooded near Utrecht; a spokesman referred to a "water ballet" on the flooded road.
- US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cut short her visit to Berlin in order to leave for London before the winds worsened.
- The storm was dubbed 'Cyril' by weather observing offices.
