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France declares storms 'disaster' | France declares storms 'disaster' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
France has declared a national disaster after violent storms battered parts of the country leaving death and destruction in their wake. | France has declared a national disaster after violent storms battered parts of the country leaving death and destruction in their wake. |
Prime Minister Francois Fillon said the move would release funds to help communities rebuild. | Prime Minister Francois Fillon said the move would release funds to help communities rebuild. |
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has arrived at the storm-battered Atlantic coast, where at least 47 people died. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy has arrived at the storm-battered Atlantic coast, where at least 47 people died. |
As the storm swept north-eastwards across Western Europe, others died in Portugal, Spain, Belgium and Germany. | As the storm swept north-eastwards across Western Europe, others died in Portugal, Spain, Belgium and Germany. |
Many of those on the French coast drowned, while those elsewhere were hit by parts of buildings or falling trees. | Many of those on the French coast drowned, while those elsewhere were hit by parts of buildings or falling trees. |
Power out | Power out |
"It's a national disaster and my first thoughts go to the victims and to their families, to whom I want to express the government's and the nation's condolences," Mr Fillon said. | "It's a national disaster and my first thoughts go to the victims and to their families, to whom I want to express the government's and the nation's condolences," Mr Fillon said. |
"The priority now is to make all the homeless people safe, all the people who are still threatened by the rising waters." | "The priority now is to make all the homeless people safe, all the people who are still threatened by the rising waters." |
Mr Sarkozy arrived in La Rochelle before flying over L'Aiguillon Sur Mer | Mr Sarkozy arrived in La Rochelle before flying over L'Aiguillon Sur Mer |
He said flood prevention dykes would be strengthened. | He said flood prevention dykes would be strengthened. |
Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said nearly 10,000 emergency staff were working on the west coast on Monday morning, to search for and help survivors. | Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said nearly 10,000 emergency staff were working on the west coast on Monday morning, to search for and help survivors. |
He told France-Info radio that the death toll would "doubtless" rise as rescue workers made house-to-house visits. | He told France-Info radio that the death toll would "doubtless" rise as rescue workers made house-to-house visits. |
As many as 30 people are thought to be missing. | As many as 30 people are thought to be missing. |
The Atlantic storm, named Xynthia, smashed into the western coasts of France, Portugal and Spain on Sunday, with torrential rain driven by winds of up to 140km/h (87mph). | The Atlantic storm, named Xynthia, smashed into the western coasts of France, Portugal and Spain on Sunday, with torrential rain driven by winds of up to 140km/h (87mph). |
The weather system has swept north-eastwards into Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. There have also been reports of high winds in the Swiss Alps. | The weather system has swept north-eastwards into Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. There have also been reports of high winds in the Swiss Alps. |
In France, Xynthia put five of the country's 95 departments on red alert - only the second such warning since a new emergency system was introduced in 2001. | In France, Xynthia put five of the country's 95 departments on red alert - only the second such warning since a new emergency system was introduced in 2001. |
In pictures: Storm batters Europe 'The worst storm I've encountered' class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8543377.stm">Eyewitness: France storms | |
More than a million homes in France have lost electricity, from the Brittany peninsula in the west to the highlands of the Massif Central. | More than a million homes in France have lost electricity, from the Brittany peninsula in the west to the highlands of the Massif Central. |
Worst affected have been the Vendee and Charente-Maritime regions on the western coast. | Worst affected have been the Vendee and Charente-Maritime regions on the western coast. |
Huge waves and strong gusts battered many coastal towns, flooding inland areas and destroying buildings. | Huge waves and strong gusts battered many coastal towns, flooding inland areas and destroying buildings. |
Residents took to their roofs in the Vendee region and police helicopters were in action trying to locate and rescue them. | Residents took to their roofs in the Vendee region and police helicopters were in action trying to locate and rescue them. |
French national power company EDF said half a million customers were still without power at nightfall on Sunday, AFP news agency reported. | French national power company EDF said half a million customers were still without power at nightfall on Sunday, AFP news agency reported. |
Mr Fillon said it would take several days to restore power everywhere. | Mr Fillon said it would take several days to restore power everywhere. |
Falling trees | Falling trees |
In Germany, a man was killed and his wife injured when a tree fell on their car in the Black Forest region, AFP reported. | In Germany, a man was killed and his wife injured when a tree fell on their car in the Black Forest region, AFP reported. |
A female jogger in the western town of Bergheim, and a man in Belgium, were also killed by falling trees. | A female jogger in the western town of Bergheim, and a man in Belgium, were also killed by falling trees. |
Earlier on Sunday two Spanish men died when a tree crushed their car near Burgos. A Spanish woman was killed by a falling wall in Galicia, and a Portuguese boy was killed by a tree in Paredes. | Earlier on Sunday two Spanish men died when a tree crushed their car near Burgos. A Spanish woman was killed by a falling wall in Galicia, and a Portuguese boy was killed by a tree in Paredes. |
Air France said 100 of its flights had been cancelled from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. | Air France said 100 of its flights had been cancelled from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. |
Wind speeds hit 175km/h at the top of the Eiffel Tower, French radio reported. | Wind speeds hit 175km/h at the top of the Eiffel Tower, French radio reported. |
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. |
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. |
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The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |