Killer storms hit Europe

STRONG winds have battered northern and central Europe, killing two people in Poland, two in the Czech Republic and one in Germany, with rail traffic in large sections of Germany suspended.

The victims in Poland and the Czech Republic were killed by falling trees.

Storm Hewart also knocked out power to thousands of Czechs and Poles.

Winds reached more than 100km/h in several parts of the Czech Republic and topped out at 180km/h on Snezka, at 1602m the country’s highest mountain, Czech TV reported.