Strong winds disrupt rail transport, damage power lines

Strong winds have disrupted rail transport between the Czech Republic and Slovakia and caused damage to power lines in many parts of the Czech Republic. The worst damage is reported from northern Bohemia where emergency crews were out all night clearing roads, rail tracks and fixing damages power lines. Gale-force winds toppled a twenty metre tall Christmas tree on the main square of Česká Lípa, north of Prague. Fortunately no one was injured in the accident. Rail transport between the Czech Republic and Slovakia was disrupted after a train going from eastern Slovakia to Prague crashed into a fallen tree trunk. The accident caused delays and in some cases travellers were asked to use replacement busses.