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Fatal storm hits France and Spain Fatal storm hits France and Spain
(30 minutes later)
High winds battering northern Spain have brought down the roof of a sports hall near Barcelona, killing four children, local officials say.High winds battering northern Spain have brought down the roof of a sports hall near Barcelona, killing four children, local officials say.
Four other people died in other incidents in Spain as the fiercest storm in a decade battered northern Spain and the south-west of France. Five other people died in other incidents in Spain as the fiercest storm in a decade battered northern Spain and the south-west of France.
Torrential rains and winds of up to 172km/h (107mph) are being reported.Torrential rains and winds of up to 172km/h (107mph) are being reported.
At least one million homes in France are without electricity, road and rail links are blocked and airports closed.At least one million homes in France are without electricity, road and rail links are blocked and airports closed.
The impacts of the storm have been felt from the Channel Isles to Barcelona, but the strongest winds and heaviest rain has been concentrated around south-west France.The impacts of the storm have been felt from the Channel Isles to Barcelona, but the strongest winds and heaviest rain has been concentrated around south-west France.
See map of storm regionSee map of storm region
Although this type of active low pressure system is fairly common in winter, BBC meteorologist Alex Deakin says, Saturday's storm is being described as the most damaging since the devastating storm of December 1999 that killed 88 people.Although this type of active low pressure system is fairly common in winter, BBC meteorologist Alex Deakin says, Saturday's storm is being described as the most damaging since the devastating storm of December 1999 that killed 88 people.
Children killedChildren killed
The sports hall partially collapsed in the town of Sant Boi de Llobregat, Catalonia, with between 20 and 30 youngsters inside, officials said.The sports hall partially collapsed in the town of Sant Boi de Llobregat, Catalonia, with between 20 and 30 youngsters inside, officials said.
Public roads workers clear away trees in BordeauxPublic roads workers clear away trees in Bordeaux
At least 15 people were injured. The youngsters had gathered to play baseball but the fierce winds drove them to take shelter in a small covered area for spectators, made of concrete, with a corrugated iron roof.
A woman was killed by a collapsing wall in the Barcelona area and in Burela, Galicia, a policeman was killed by a falling tree as he directed traffic. Moments later, the high winds caused the structure to collapse.
Two men were killed elsewhere, one by a falling tree and one by a wall. Local people and fire-fighters helped free the survivors from the rubble but three children aged between nine and twelve died at the scene, and a fourth child died later in hospital. More than a dozen others received treatment for injures.
Residents in affected areas in both countries have been warned to stay indoors. In other incidents in Spain
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  • A collapsing wall killed a woman and a falling tree killed a male park employee in the Barcelona area
  • In Galicia, a policeman was killed by a falling tree as he directed traffic in Burela and a sailor from a cargo ship died when the vessel got in trouble off the coast
  • A falling wall crushed a man in Aigues de Busot, near Alicante in the south-east of Spain
Tens of thousands of homes have been left without power in the country.
French weather agencies forecast the storm but it has affected a wider area than expected. A state of "red alert" has been declared in nine departments.French weather agencies forecast the storm but it has affected a wider area than expected. A state of "red alert" has been declared in nine departments.
In France, the storm has caused havoc from the Dordogne area to the Pyrenees.In France, the storm has caused havoc from the Dordogne area to the Pyrenees.
As it moved east, the torrential rains caused flooding in some areas prompting thousands of calls to the emergency services.As it moved east, the torrential rains caused flooding in some areas prompting thousands of calls to the emergency services.
The force of the storm also led to the closure of airports in Bordeaux, Pau and Biarritz, and Toulouse.The force of the storm also led to the closure of airports in Bordeaux, Pau and Biarritz, and Toulouse.
Train services have also ground to a halt, leaving several hundred passengers stranded in stations overnight.Train services have also ground to a halt, leaving several hundred passengers stranded in stations overnight.
Blocked roadsBlocked roads
The storms are expected to spread eastwards on Saturday bringing the risk of further heavy rain, strong winds and disruption, BBC weather experts said.The storms are expected to spread eastwards on Saturday bringing the risk of further heavy rain, strong winds and disruption, BBC weather experts said.
Blocked roads are hampering efforts to repair damaged power linesBlocked roads are hampering efforts to repair damaged power lines
Although expected to weaken over the next 12-18 hours, parts of southern France could still see some damage, with the storm's strong winds funnelling through the Rhone valley overnight.Although expected to weaken over the next 12-18 hours, parts of southern France could still see some damage, with the storm's strong winds funnelling through the Rhone valley overnight.
Hundreds of technicians had been deployed to try to restore power to residents by the end of the day, but blocked roads are hampering their efforts.Hundreds of technicians had been deployed to try to restore power to residents by the end of the day, but blocked roads are hampering their efforts.
"The number of clients who are cut off from the grid is rising from minute to minute as the storm moves eastwards," Michel Francony, head of the regional electricity grid operator ERDF, told local radio."The number of clients who are cut off from the grid is rising from minute to minute as the storm moves eastwards," Michel Francony, head of the regional electricity grid operator ERDF, told local radio.
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