Storm Sabine wreaks havoc in south-west Germany

A strong winter storm has battered rrn Europe with hurricane-force winds and heavy rains, disrupting travel across Germany and prompting authorities in some regions to close schools as a precaution.

In area around small town of Kaiserbach, in southwest state of Ben-Wuerttemberg, a tree crashed into a parked caravan, blocking nearby ros.re were reports of any injuries.

Utility companies were also scrambling to restore power to some 50,000 homes in rrn Bavaria early on Monday.Train travel across Europe's biggest ecomy was also severely disrupted, leaving many commuters unable to get to work.

Deutsche Bahn said Monday it was slowly resuming long-distance rail services in rth of country but warned travelers to expect furr disruptions. Airlines canceled hundreds of flights from German airports.

storm, which was dubbed Sabine in Germany, also led to school closures in several cities and regions, including Germany's rth Rhine-Westphalia state, where several people were injured by falling branches and toppling trees.Meteorologists expect gusts up to 140 kilometers per hour (87 miles per hour) in mountaius areas of sourn Germany later on Monday.

(Im Credits: AP)