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PRAGUE, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Strong wind hit the Czech Republic in the west-east direction during Thursday night and the day of Friday, causing thousands of homes without power and rail disruption along the worst-afflicted railway lines.
The highest wind speed reached at 100 kilometers per hour. Fallen trees and branches disruption road and rail traffic in many parts of the country.
CEZ energy utilities has declared the state of calamity in 18 districts in the country. CEZ spokesmen Ladislav Kriz said they have registered troubles all over the country and thousands of households have been left without energy.
The worst problems were reported in the westernmost Karlovy Vary Region on Friday morning, and the Central Bohemia then was hit by the largest number of blackouts.
According to Czech Railways, falling trees, which are behind most of the energy blackouts, have stopped the train operation on several lines mainly in South Bohemia.
Representatives of insurance companies estimated the damages caused by the storm so far for tens of millions of crowns (about several millions U.S. dollars). Enditem
