Netherlands hit by severe storm, issues warning

AMSTERDAM, Jan 18 (Reuters) Gale-force winds and heavy rains hit the Netherlands today, prompting travel warnings, school closures and forcing flight cancellations in what is expected to be the worst storm in years.

The Dutch meteorological office, KNMI, issued a weather alarm, saying wind speed was likely to reach 100-130 km/h later in the day and could easily cause damage.

''Such a storm has not been seen in our country for years,'' the KNMI said in a statement.

Authorities issued travel warnings and advised people not to drive their cars unless it was absolutely necessary. Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, one of Europe's largest air transport hubs, cancelled dozens of flights by noon as powerful winds forced it to close all but two runways.

Three people were injured when a construction crane fell in Utrecht, while the main post office in the town was shut because of falling roof tiles from neighbouring buildings, Dutch news agency ANP reported.

Schoolchildren were sent home in the town of Almere as the wind threatened to blow away the roof of their school.

REUTERS SHB VV1939