Storm causes transport chaos in Germany | DW News

Gale-force winds have swept across central Europe, wreaking havoc for commuters and killing at least four people.

Storm Ylenia hit northern Germany in the early hours of Thursday morning, with a wind speed of up to 152 kilometers per hour (almost 95 mph) recorded by the German Meteorological Service (DWD).

Germany's national rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) canceled long-distance trains in the states of Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Berlin and Brandenburg.

Lufthansa canceled 20 flights and announced there would be delays because of bad weather. The German airline asked people to check their flight status before traveling.

Authorities recommended staying indoors and keeping a distance from buildings, scaffoldings and power lines.

In Poland, more than 500 homes were reported damaged in wind gusts measuring up to 125 kilometres per hour.

Police said two people died and two were injured after a large crane was toppled by heavy wind at a construction site in the southern city of Krakow.

In the UK, a rare "red weather" alert was issued Thursday and Friday, warning of "danger to life" from severe gusts in southwestern England and south Wales.