This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7848719.stm

The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Fatal storm hits France and Spain European storm death toll mounts
(40 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.
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. Seven people died in other incidents in Spain and south-western France as the fiercest storm in a decade blew in from the Atlantic.
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 1m 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
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.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.
Moments later, the high winds caused the structure to collapse.Moments later, the high winds caused the structure to collapse.
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.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.
In other incidents in Spain
    class="bulletList">
  • 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
In other incidents
    class="bulletList">
  • A driver was killed by a falling tree and a 78-year-old man was killed by flying debris in the Landes region of south-western France, near Bordeaux
  • 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.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. 'Ghost town'
In France, the storm has caused havoc from the Dordogne area to the Pyrenees. French weather agencies had forecast the storm but it affected a wider area than expected. A state of "red alert" was declared in nine departments.
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.
Train services have also ground to a halt, leaving several hundred passengers stranded in stations overnight.
Blocked 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.
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. The storm caused havoc from the Dordogne area to the Pyrenees. Torrential rains caused flooding in some areas prompting thousands of calls to the emergency services.
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 force of the storm also led to the closure of airports in Bordeaux, Pau, Biarritz and Toulouse, and train services also ground to a halt, leaving several hundred passengers stranded in stations overnight.
"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. Mark Richardson, a BBC News website reader visiting Bordeaux from the UK, writes that the city ground to a standstill following the storm overnight and felt like a ghost town.
Bob Thompson, another reader, writes from the countryside near Perigueux in the Dordogne that the fields "look like lakes". His electricity went off at about midnight and was not restored until midday, he adds.
The storms are expected to spread eastwards on Saturday bringing the risk of further heavy rain, strong winds and disruption, BBC weather experts say.
Although they are 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 France's Rhone valley overnight.
Click here to returnClick here to return
Have you been affected by the storms? Have you been left without power? Send us your comments using the form below.Have you been affected by the storms? Have you been left without power? Send us your comments using the form below.
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions Read the terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Name
 Name