Storm Malik hits northern Europe with force; at least 4 dead
HELSINKI — A powerful winter storm swept through northern Europe over the weekend, killing at least four people, destroying houses and cars, closing bridges and causing flooding and halting transport while leaving thousands of households without electricity.
Storm Malik was advancing in the Nordic region on Sunday, bringing strong gusts of wind, and extensive rain and snowfall in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
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Malik reached the Nordic region and northern Germany late Saturday after moving in from Britain where it caused havoc with material damage and transport chaos, hitting Scotland particularly bad. In the U.K., a 9-year-old boy in Staffordshire, England, and a 60-year-old woman in Scotland were killed Saturday by falling trees as strong winds battered northern parts of Britain.
Wind gusts of more than 100 mph have been reported in parts of Scotland, leaving tens of thousands of homes without power.
In Denmark, strong winds with heavy rain caused the temporary closure of several bridges on Saturday including the key Oeresund road and rail bridge connecting Copenhagen and the Swedish city of Malmo.
Danish media reported that a 78-year-old woman died from severe injuries after falling in strong winds.
In neighboring Germany, local media reported that a man was killed on Saturday after being hit by a billboard that was loosened by the storm.
Flooding in many parts of Denmark caused substantial material damage. Several traffic crashes caused by falling trees and flying debris were reported to police.
