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| Gatwick Airport power problems leave thousands stranded | Gatwick Airport power problems leave thousands stranded |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Several thousand passengers have been stranded at Gatwick Airport following stormy weather. | Several thousand passengers have been stranded at Gatwick Airport following stormy weather. |
| The airport has suffered "sporadic power problems" at its North Terminal, affecting its ability to check people in manually. | The airport has suffered "sporadic power problems" at its North Terminal, affecting its ability to check people in manually. |
| Gatwick said all departures would now be leaving from the South Terminal, apart from British Airways. Arrivals are still coming in to both terminals. | Gatwick said all departures would now be leaving from the South Terminal, apart from British Airways. Arrivals are still coming in to both terminals. |
| A spokeswoman said electricity sub-stations on the airfield had flooded. | A spokeswoman said electricity sub-stations on the airfield had flooded. |
| She said: "The cause of this was flooding from the River Mole into substations on the airfield. | She said: "The cause of this was flooding from the River Mole into substations on the airfield. |
| "They are now drying out, which is good news. We are trying to get people out as quickly as we can." | "They are now drying out, which is good news. We are trying to get people out as quickly as we can." |
| She said Gatwick had 133 departing flights leaving from the North Terminal on Tuesday, and of those, 86 had departed and 26 had been cancelled. | She said Gatwick had 133 departing flights leaving from the North Terminal on Tuesday, and of those, 86 had departed and 26 had been cancelled. |
| 'Significant delays' | 'Significant delays' |
| "There are not too many left to go now," she added. "But, disruption is still expected for the next few hours." | |
| She said by 16:00 GMT the average delay per flight was about 90 minutes, adding: "Pressure is easing, but there are still pretty significant delays." | She said by 16:00 GMT the average delay per flight was about 90 minutes, adding: "Pressure is easing, but there are still pretty significant delays." |
| Easyjet said it had cancelled 38 flights and a number of others have been delayed. | Easyjet said it had cancelled 38 flights and a number of others have been delayed. |
| No trains were running to or from the airport for most of the morning because of fallen trees on the line. | No trains were running to or from the airport for most of the morning because of fallen trees on the line. |
| Southern said Gatwick Express services were suspended because of a landslip between East Croydon and the airport. | Southern said Gatwick Express services were suspended because of a landslip between East Croydon and the airport. |
| It said replacement buses were operating between London Victoria and Gatwick. | It said replacement buses were operating between London Victoria and Gatwick. |
| 'Pretty poor show' | 'Pretty poor show' |
| Travel journalist Simon Calder said he estimated about 10,000 people in total would not get to their destination and would end up spending Christmas in various parts of Europe as a result of the disruption. | Travel journalist Simon Calder said he estimated about 10,000 people in total would not get to their destination and would end up spending Christmas in various parts of Europe as a result of the disruption. |
| Transport minister Baroness Kramer told Prime Minister David Cameron air passengers at Gatwick and those trying to get there, had shown common sense and good humour in miserable circumstances. | |
| However, she added safety had to be the priority on Gatwick train services, which could not run unless lines were clear. | |
| The government would look afterwards to see if there were things that could have been handled better, she explained. | |
| Passenger Rachel Rouse, who arrived at the airport hoping to fly to Tenerife for Christmas, said: "All the screens went down, which obviously wasn't their fault because of the electricity, but when the screens did go back up the only things that were on it was a message saying, 'Merry Christmas'." | Passenger Rachel Rouse, who arrived at the airport hoping to fly to Tenerife for Christmas, said: "All the screens went down, which obviously wasn't their fault because of the electricity, but when the screens did go back up the only things that were on it was a message saying, 'Merry Christmas'." |
| Peter Lambert, another passenger who emailed the BBC, said: "As usual there is a complete lack of communication. | Peter Lambert, another passenger who emailed the BBC, said: "As usual there is a complete lack of communication. |
| "The staff have to shout instructions, the PA only works for pre-recorded announcements of no use at all. They could do with investing in some loud hailers. | "The staff have to shout instructions, the PA only works for pre-recorded announcements of no use at all. They could do with investing in some loud hailers. |
| "Easyjet are doing their best by moving people flight by flight to the South Terminal. All in all a pretty poor show from Gatwick Ltd." | "Easyjet are doing their best by moving people flight by flight to the South Terminal. All in all a pretty poor show from Gatwick Ltd." |
| 'Causing delays' | 'Causing delays' |
| A number of flights were diverted from the airport to Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle on Monday evening. | A number of flights were diverted from the airport to Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle on Monday evening. |
| A Gatwick spokesman said: "We are doing everything we can to get people away for Christmas and we understand passengers' frustrations. We have extra staff helping out in the terminals." | A Gatwick spokesman said: "We are doing everything we can to get people away for Christmas and we understand passengers' frustrations. We have extra staff helping out in the terminals." |
| Southeastern trains said there were still limited services because of disruption caused by earlier fallen trees and Southern said other services across its network were severely disrupted after the storm. | Southeastern trains said there were still limited services because of disruption caused by earlier fallen trees and Southern said other services across its network were severely disrupted after the storm. |
| A UK Power Networks spokeswoman said engineers were currently working to restore power supplies in the area. | A UK Power Networks spokeswoman said engineers were currently working to restore power supplies in the area. |
| More than 7,000 Sussex homes were left without power after trees and debris damaged overhead power lines. Nearly 5,800 were still without electricity on Tuesday evening. | More than 7,000 Sussex homes were left without power after trees and debris damaged overhead power lines. Nearly 5,800 were still without electricity on Tuesday evening. |
| Homes also lost water supplies. South East Water said customers in the Haywards Heath, Cuckfield, West Hoathly and Turners Hill areas were affected. | Homes also lost water supplies. South East Water said customers in the Haywards Heath, Cuckfield, West Hoathly and Turners Hill areas were affected. |
| Bottled water was being handed out at the Dolphin Leisure Centre in Haywards Heath and at a car park in Cuckfield. | Bottled water was being handed out at the Dolphin Leisure Centre in Haywards Heath and at a car park in Cuckfield. |
| The Environment Agency issued dozens of flood warnings for the South East. | The Environment Agency issued dozens of flood warnings for the South East. |
| It said teams had put up flood barriers in Lewes. | |
| Tom Barlow, who lives in Stedham, Midhurst, West Sussex, said he was wading "knee-deep in floodwater". | |
| "It's the worst I've seen in 10 years. There's a weir that's completely flooded now. It's swept away the walkway bridge." | |