THE HAGUE, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Storm Benjamin battered the Netherlands on Thursday, triggering widespread travel disruptions.
The Dutch national weather institute, KNMI, issued a "Code Orange" alert, its second-highest warning, for the country's western coastal provinces, forecasting powerful wind gusts of up to 120 km per hour.
The agency warned of potential falling trees, property damage, and disruption to roads and public transport.
On the railways, national operator Dutch Railways said it was implementing a reduced schedule for trains, warning of longer journey times and necessary transfers.
National railway infrastructure manager ProRail added that some track maintenance work would be halted if winds became too strong.
As to air travel, Dutch flagship carrier KLM canceled dozens of flights from its Schiphol hub and warned of possible delays.
The Amsterdam Schiphol Airport also advised all passengers to check its website for the latest flight information before traveling.
According to the KNMI, the powerful winds from Storm Benjamin are expected to slowly ease throughout Friday, with the storm lingering longest in the northern Wadden Islands region. ■
