Storm Sabine wreaks havoc in south-west Germany

A strong winter storm has battered northern 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 the area around the small town of Kaiserbach, in the southwest state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, a tree crashed into a parked caravan, blocking nearby roads.There were no reports of any injuries.

Utility companies were also scrambling to restore power to some 50,000 homes in northern Bavaria early on Monday.Train travel across Europe's biggest economy 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 the north of the country but warned travelers to expect further disruptions. Airlines canceled hundreds of flights from German airports.

The storm, which was dubbed Sabine in Germany, also led to school closures in several cities and regions, including Germany's North 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 mountainous areas of southern Germany later on Monday.

(Image Credits: AP)