1 of 3Photo: Stefan Rousseau / Pa Photos
The powerful storm “Eunice” is ravaging Europe on Friday. In London, parts of the roof of the O2 Arena entertainment center have been torn apart by the strong wind. So far, the storm has killed eight people.
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The arena, formerly known as the Millennium Cathedral, is one of the British capital’s largest stages. Both large concerts and sporting events are arranged in the arena.
According to AFP, the storm led to record strong gusts in the UK on Friday, with speeds of more than 195 kilometers per hour.
Ireland, the Netherlands, France and Germany are also among the countries that will get acquainted with the rather violent “Eunice” on Friday.
Extremely strong winds can lead to dangerous conditions, states the Meteorological Institute Met Office in the UK. They warn of storm surges, floods and strong winds.
They have sent out red danger signs that apply to the southwest of England and the south of Wales.
Eight died
These warnings pose a danger to life and health as a result of flying loose objects: Roofs can blow off buildings, and power lines can end up on the ground. Millions of Britons and Irish are advised to stay indoors.
And in Ireland the storm has so far killed one man in his 60s. He died when a tree fell on him as he worked to clear remnants of the storm in Wexford, in the southeast of the country.
Reuters reports on Friday night that a woman in London also died from a falling tree and that a man in Liverpool died when he was hit by objects carried by the strong wind.
While in the Netherlands, four people have died. Two of them were hit by falling trees, while a driver died after crashing into a tree that had blown over.
And in neighboring Belgium, a 79-year-old man died after falling into the water from his boat, writes Reuters.
A woman is also said to have been seriously injured when roof tiles fell on her in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, an hour west of London.
1 of 3Foto: TOM NICHOLSON / Reuters
Hundreds of schools were closed on Friday, all trains in Wales are stationary and all flights from London City Airport have been canceled, reports the BBC.
Heathrow International Airport reports also about several canceled flights.
According to BBC Weather, the storm could be “the worst in 30 years”.
“It will probably be the strongest storm in many years on the German North Sea coast”, says qualified meteorologist Dominik Jung from Wetter.net to German Bild.
The French newspaper Le Figaro reported earlier on Friday about big waves in the north of the country, and the cancellation of several train departures.
“Stay at home, do not take risks, and do not travel unless absolutely necessary,” London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted on Friday morning.
The Netherlands has also declared code red for coastal provinces and the Wadden Islands. About 300 flights have been canceled at Schiphol and from 14.00 all train traffic throughout the Netherlands was stopped.
Even top football in the Netherlands can be affected by the storm. The Dutch Football Association KNVB has been in talks with experts about tonight’s matches.
Several test centers and vaccination rooms must also be closed.
In Ireland, several thousand homes in the south of the country were without electricity on Friday morning, and several schools and universities are closed. In Scotland, the storm brought with it a heavy snowfall, which created problems on the roads in the country.
People all over the UK have been about to leave the car.
Red danger warning – the highest level – was first sent off the coast of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and parts of Wales.
Then came a new red alert that includes Kent, Surrey, Essex and the capital London.
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