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West Europe storms leave 16 dead | West Europe storms leave 16 dead |
(40 minutes later) | |
At least 16 people have been killed in storms that have lashed parts of Spain, Portugal and France. | At least 16 people have been killed in storms that have lashed parts of Spain, Portugal and France. |
Winds of up to 140km/h (87mph) caused chaos as they moved from Portugal up through the Bay of Biscay. | Winds of up to 140km/h (87mph) caused chaos as they moved from Portugal up through the Bay of Biscay. |
Twelve people have died in France and three in Spain as well as a 10-year-old boy in Portugal. | Twelve people have died in France and three in Spain as well as a 10-year-old boy in Portugal. |
The storm is expected to track north-eastwards during the course of Sunday, reaching Denmark by the evening, French meteorological authorities said. | The storm is expected to track north-eastwards during the course of Sunday, reaching Denmark by the evening, French meteorological authorities said. |
Falling trees | Falling trees |
The storm system, which has been called Xynthia, has put five of the 95 French departments on red alert - only the second such warning since the new emergency system was introduced in 2001. | The storm system, which has been called Xynthia, has put five of the 95 French departments on red alert - only the second such warning since the new emergency system was introduced in 2001. |
Hundreds of thousands of homes in west and south-west France have lost electricity while a number of French coastal villages were flooded. | Hundreds of thousands of homes in west and south-west France have lost electricity while a number of French coastal villages were flooded. |
Some people had taken to their roofs in the Vendee region, one policeman told the Agence France-Presse news agency by telephone. | Some people had taken to their roofs in the Vendee region, one policeman told the Agence France-Presse news agency by telephone. |
Police helicopters were in action attempting to locate and rescue people marooned on their roofs. | Police helicopters were in action attempting to locate and rescue people marooned on their roofs. |
Most of the French fatalities were caused by drowning, but some were killed by flying debris, according to AFP. | Most of the French fatalities were caused by drowning, but some were killed by flying debris, according to AFP. |
A tree claimed the lives of two Spanish men when their vehicle was hit and a Spanish woman aged 82 was killed by a falling wall in Galicia. | A tree claimed the lives of two Spanish men when their vehicle was hit and a Spanish woman aged 82 was killed by a falling wall in Galicia. |
The Portuguese boy was also killed by a tree. | The Portuguese boy was also killed by a tree. |
Rail services were severely affected in northern Spain, and a major road crossing between France and Spain was closed to heavy goods vehicles. | Rail services were severely affected in northern Spain, and a major road crossing between France and Spain was closed to heavy goods vehicles. |
Air France said that 70 of its flights were cancelled from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. | Air France said that 70 of its flights were cancelled from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. |
According to a report on Europe 1 radio, wind speeds hit 175km/h at the top of the Eiffel Tower in the French capital. | According to a report on Europe 1 radio, wind speeds hit 175km/h at the top of the Eiffel Tower in the French capital. |
Spain's Canary Islands, particularly La Palma, Gran Canaria and Tenerife, were hit by the storm, although there was no great damage. | Spain's Canary Islands, particularly La Palma, Gran Canaria and Tenerife, were hit by the storm, although there was no great damage. |
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