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| Storm damage: Thousands still without power | Storm damage: Thousands still without power |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of people are still without electricity after the storm that hit southern Britain. | Thousands of people are still without electricity after the storm that hit southern Britain. |
| On Monday 660,000 homes were affected, but that figure was down to 16,900 as of 11:30 GMT on Wednesday, the Energy Networks Association said. | |
| 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 Wednesday that all lines were open. | The conditions brought major rail and road disruption, but Network Rail said on Wednesday that all 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 on Monday. | 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 on Monday. |
| 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 couple, Suhail Akhtar, 46, and Dorota Kolasinska, 34, died in Hounslow, west London following a suspected gas explosion after a tree fell during high winds. | |
| Hackney Council, which employed Ms Kolasinska as a traffic light sequencer, described her as "extremely popular and hard-working". | |
| Power cuts | Power 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. |
| A spokesman said around 15,000 properties were reconnected overnight on Tuesday, leaving 19,400 households still without power on Wednesday morning. | A spokesman said around 15,000 properties were reconnected overnight on Tuesday, leaving 19,400 households still without power on Wednesday morning. |
| UK Power Networks said 14,000 of those were in the eastern part of England and a further 3,000 in the south-eastern region. | UK Power Networks said 14,000 of those were in the eastern part of England and a further 3,000 in the south-eastern region. |
| The remaining homes without power are in "small isolated pockets" of the south, the Energy Networks Association said, with around 900 of those in the Salisbury, Aldershot and Basingstoke areas. | The remaining homes without power are in "small isolated pockets" of the south, the Energy Networks Association said, with around 900 of those in the Salisbury, Aldershot and Basingstoke areas. |
| 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 a 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 a 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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