Strong winds and high water levels in the Netherlands

Storm force winds and heavy rain battered northern parts of the Netherlands on Thursday
as weather bureau KNMI issued a code orange weather warning. Winds of up to 110 kph hit northern coastal areas, and there was considerable damage inland as gales brought down trees and damaged buildings. At least 30 flights were cancelled at Schiphol airport because of the strong winds and there was considerable disruption on rush-hour trains.

 Meanwhile, nearly 80 people were evacuated from the Groningen village of Tolbert because a dyke is threatening to break through. Oil and gas company Nam has closed down two gas extraction plants which are also located on the polder.The heavy rain over the past few days has led water boards in Groningen to open upemergency flood plains in several places. Although there is no cause for alarm, officials said, some dykes have been reinforced. On Thursday morning, officials decided to open two nature reserves up to excess water in an effort to stop parts of Groningen, Hoogezand and Winschoten flooding, Nos television said. Officials throughout Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe are monitoring events closely as water levels reach a 14-year high, Nos television said. Pumps are operating round the clock in the three northern provinces to shift excess water to the sea or IJsselmeer lake. In Dordrecht, south of Rotterdam, officials have issued 4,000 sandbags to try to stop the city centre river breaking its banks, Nos television reports. 

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