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Storm damage: Thousands still without power Storm damage: Thousands still without power
(about 7 hours later)
Thousands of people are experiencing their second night without electricity after the storm that battered southern Britain on Monday. Thousands of people have spent their second night without electricity after the storm that hit southern Britain.
Engineers have now restored power to most of the 660,000 homes affected, but about 31,000 are still cut off. Engineers have now restored power to most of the 660,000 homes affected on Monday, but about 31,000 were still cut off on Tuesday evening.
Heavy rain and winds of more than 70mph (112 km/h) hit parts of the country, and four people are known to have died.Heavy rain and winds of more than 70mph (112 km/h) hit parts of the country, and four people are known to have died.
The conditions brought major rail and road disruption, but Network Rail said on Tuesday that 99% of lines were open.The conditions brought major rail and road disruption, but Network Rail said on Tuesday that 99% of lines were open.
Bethany Freeman, 17, suffered fatal injuries when a tree came down on the caravan she was sleeping in Hever, near Edenbridge, Kent, at about 07:20 GMT.Bethany Freeman, 17, suffered fatal injuries when a tree came down on the caravan she was sleeping in Hever, near Edenbridge, Kent, at about 07:20 GMT.
Her mother, Tess Peirce, has released a statement, saying: "We are all absolutely devastated at the loss of my daughter.Her mother, Tess Peirce, has released a statement, saying: "We are all absolutely devastated at the loss of my daughter.
"I would like to thank the emergency services for their tremendous efforts in attempting to save her.""I would like to thank the emergency services for their tremendous efforts in attempting to save her."
Donal Drohan, 51, from Harrow, was pronounced dead at the scene after a tree crushed a red Peugeot at Lower High Street in Watford, Hertfordshire, at 06:50 GMT.Donal Drohan, 51, from Harrow, was pronounced dead at the scene after a tree crushed a red Peugeot at Lower High Street in Watford, Hertfordshire, at 06:50 GMT.
And a man and woman died in west London following a suspected gas explosion after a tree fell during high winds in Hounslow.And a man and woman died in west London following a suspected gas explosion after a tree fell during high winds in Hounslow.
The woman has been named as Dorota Kolasinska, 34. Hackney Council, which employed Ms Kolasinska as a traffic light sequencer, described her as "extremely popular and hard-working".The woman has been named as Dorota Kolasinska, 34. Hackney Council, which employed Ms Kolasinska as a traffic light sequencer, described her as "extremely popular and hard-working".
Power cutsPower cuts
The Energy Networks Association said about 660,000 homes had lost supply during the storm.The Energy Networks Association said about 660,000 homes had lost supply during the storm.
At about 21:00 BST UK Power Networks said some 24,000 properties in eastern England and 7,000 in the South East still had no electricity.At about 21:00 BST UK Power Networks said some 24,000 properties in eastern England and 7,000 in the South East still had no electricity.
Director of customer services Matt Rudling said the company aimed to have 98% of power supplies affected by the storm restored by Wednesday and the "final few by the end of the week".Director of customer services Matt Rudling said the company aimed to have 98% of power supplies affected by the storm restored by Wednesday and the "final few by the end of the week".
Western Power Distribution said power had been restored to almost all customers in south Wales and the South West of England.Western Power Distribution said power had been restored to almost all customers in south Wales and the South West of England.
Mother-of-two Zena Bailey, from St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, has had to move into a hotel because the power has been off at her home since 04:30 GMT on Monday.Mother-of-two Zena Bailey, from St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, has had to move into a hotel because the power has been off at her home since 04:30 GMT on Monday.
"It's absolutely freezing," she said."It's absolutely freezing," she said.
"It's only 9C at night and I have two children - a two-year-old and 10-year-old."It's only 9C at night and I have two children - a two-year-old and 10-year-old.
"The UK Power Network only classifies you as 'vulnerable' if you have a baby aged under one. But I have a toddler, and we can't use the fridge, the kitchen or the bathroom. We are very vulnerable.""The UK Power Network only classifies you as 'vulnerable' if you have a baby aged under one. But I have a toddler, and we can't use the fridge, the kitchen or the bathroom. We are very vulnerable."
Return to normalReturn to normal
Network Rail said the damage to infrastructure had been "worse than expected", with 500 engineers removing more than 200 trees from lines and repairing several miles of overhead power lines.Network Rail said the damage to infrastructure had been "worse than expected", with 500 engineers removing more than 200 trees from lines and repairing several miles of overhead power lines.
Train operators, who cancelled hundreds of services on Monday, have largely resumed normal services. Greater Anglia said it was working to return to normal "as quickly as possible", but several routes were still affected.Train operators, who cancelled hundreds of services on Monday, have largely resumed normal services. Greater Anglia said it was working to return to normal "as quickly as possible", but several routes were still affected.
National Rail Enquiries advised people to follow its @nationalrailenq Twitter account for information on potential disruption.National Rail Enquiries advised people to follow its @nationalrailenq Twitter account for information on potential disruption.
The Woodland Trust said while the impact of the storm had been not as severe as the one in 1987, the geographical spread was potentially wider.The Woodland Trust said while the impact of the storm had been not as severe as the one in 1987, the geographical spread was potentially wider.
"Around 20 of our sites have been affected, including sites in Devon, Cornwall, Kent, Sussex and Hertfordshire," said Norman Starks, UK operations director for the conservation charity."Around 20 of our sites have been affected, including sites in Devon, Cornwall, Kent, Sussex and Hertfordshire," said Norman Starks, UK operations director for the conservation charity.
"Less woods appear to have been affected this time and it has tended to be individual trees or small groups of trees."Less woods appear to have been affected this time and it has tended to be individual trees or small groups of trees.
"We already know that the impact of the 2013 storm has been not as severe as the 1987 and 1990 storms, which destroyed a total of around 20 million mature trees in England.""We already know that the impact of the 2013 storm has been not as severe as the 1987 and 1990 storms, which destroyed a total of around 20 million mature trees in England."
'Emotional vigil''Emotional vigil'
Initial estimates of the level of financial damage caused by the storm are not expected until later this week, the Association of British Insurers said.Initial estimates of the level of financial damage caused by the storm are not expected until later this week, the Association of British Insurers said.
BBC weather forecasters said in more populous areas including Lyneham, near Swindon; Yeovilton in Somerset and Hurn, near Bournemouth, speeds of 74-75mph (119-121km/h) had been recorded on Monday.BBC weather forecasters said in more populous areas including Lyneham, near Swindon; Yeovilton in Somerset and Hurn, near Bournemouth, speeds of 74-75mph (119-121km/h) had been recorded on Monday.
The strongest gust of 99mph (160km/h) during the storm was recorded at Needles Old Battery, Isle of Wight, at 05:00 GMT.The strongest gust of 99mph (160km/h) during the storm was recorded at Needles Old Battery, Isle of Wight, at 05:00 GMT.
Eight people died as the storm swept through France, Germany and the Netherlands after it moved out of the UK.Eight people died as the storm swept through France, Germany and the Netherlands after it moved out of the UK.
The search for the 14-year-old boy - who has been named as Dylan Alkins - who was swept away in Newhaven, East Sussex, on Sunday is continuing.The search for the 14-year-old boy - who has been named as Dylan Alkins - who was swept away in Newhaven, East Sussex, on Sunday is continuing.
On Tuesday his friends held an emotional vigil on the beach where he was last seen alive.On Tuesday his friends held an emotional vigil on the beach where he was last seen alive.
Up to 50 youngsters gathered at West Beach in Newhaven, East Sussex, two days after he vanished while playing in the surf.Up to 50 youngsters gathered at West Beach in Newhaven, East Sussex, two days after he vanished while playing in the surf.
They released balloons with hand-written messages on them and threw flowers into the sea in tribute to Dylan.They released balloons with hand-written messages on them and threw flowers into the sea in tribute to Dylan.
One of his friends, Aaron Gilbert, 15, said: "I couldn't believe it. I was hoping it was just a bad dream.One of his friends, Aaron Gilbert, 15, said: "I couldn't believe it. I was hoping it was just a bad dream.
"We would come down every day in the summer but I never thought he would come down when it was really rough. I wish I could have stopped him.""We would come down every day in the summer but I never thought he would come down when it was really rough. I wish I could have stopped him."
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