The storm that raged through the province this afternoon has caused quite a few problems. A man has died in Amsterdam, the NS is still struggling with several problems on the track and roads have also been blocked after trees and a truck were blown over.
The KNMI has issued code yellow for the entire province. Strong wind gusts of up to 100 kilometers per hour have been measured.
Man died in Amsterdam
On the Buikslotermeerdijk in Amsterdam-Noord, a man died after he was hit by a fallen branch, which was detached by the strong wind. The man was lying in a tent that he had set up on the roadside, reports a police spokesman. The man was already dead when emergency services arrived.
Schiphol largely closed
Air traffic at Schiphol suffered a lot from the strong southwest wind. Only the Schiphol-Oost runway was available for landing aircraft. The wind was too strong to allow air traffic to land on the other five runways at Schiphol. Many aircraft therefore had to fly watch circles above South Holland, Flevoland and the North Sea.
Blown over truck
Two commercial vehicles collided with each other on the Markerwaardweg in Zwaagdijk-Oost this afternoon. The strong wind was probably the cause of this. Earlier today, another company bus ended up on its side, on the Houterweg between Venhuizen and Hem.
The stormy weather has also caused damage in Haarlemmermeer: a delivery van ended up in the Ringvaart in Halfweg and a box truck flew over the crash barrier on the A9.
All bridges remain closed
Important provincial waterways have been blocked for shipping traffic since this morning due to the strong wind.
When the wind force is 7 or higher, currently it is eight, then the rule of the province is that the bridges remain closed to prevent damage and accidents. It is expected that sailing will be possible again at the end of the day, when the wind dies down a bit.
Tracking obstacles
The railways are not immune to the storm either. There are no trains running between Uitgeest and Alkmaar due to a defective overhead line.
Something has blown into the overhead line, causing it to snap. A spokesman for the NS could not say what was blown into it. According to the NS, the delay will last all day.
Also a little fun
It was not all doom and gloom, in IJmuiden people went to the beach to take beautiful pictures and have themselves sandblasted. Watch the video below.