Storm Xavier: Seven killed as fierce storm hits northern Germany

This aerial view shows trees uprooted during a storm near Hildesheim in Germany.

Seven people died as high winds caused by a storm dubbed ‘Xavier’ knocked over trees and caused widespread travel chaos in north of the country.

Authorities in Hamburg warned residents to stay inside after a tree fell on a car and killed a woman. A truck driver was also killed near Rostock when a tree hit his vehicle. One woman died in Berlin after a tree fell on her car. Four other people were killed in the surrounding region of Brandenburg. Winds in Berlin reached up to 75 mph, flights were temporarily grounded at the city’s two airports and much of the public transportation system was shut down.