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West Europe storms leave 16 dead West Europe storms leave 16 dead
(about 1 hour later)
At least 16 people have been killed in storms that have lashed parts of Spain, Portugal and France. At least 22 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. Eighteen 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.
In pictures: Storm batters western Europe
Falling treesFalling 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. More than a million homes in 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 and and 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.
Most of the French fatalities were caused by drowning, but some were killed by flying debris, according to AFP. President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his condolences to relatives of victims, and ordered his interior minister to the worst-hit area to co-ordinate the response.
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. AFP also reported that in Germany, a man was killed and his wife injured when a tree fell on their car in the Black Forest region.
The Portuguese boy was also killed by a tree. Earlier on Sunday a falling tree killed two Spanish men in a car. A Spanish woman was killed by a falling wall in Galicia. 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 number of trains in western France were delayed because of flooded tracks.
Air France said that 70 of its flights were cancelled from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. Air France said 70 of its flights had been 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. Wind speeds hit 175km/h at the top of the Eiffel Tower, French radio reported.
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.
Are you in any of the areas affected by the storms? Send us your comments, pictures and video.Are you in any of the areas affected by the storms? Send us your comments, pictures and video.
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.
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