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| UK storms destroy railway line and leave thousands without power | UK storms destroy railway line and leave thousands without power |
| (2 days later) | |
| Parts of Britain have been hit by a storm which destroyed a stretch of railway, forced people from their homes and left thousands without power. | Parts of Britain have been hit by a storm which destroyed a stretch of railway, forced people from their homes and left thousands without power. |
| A section of the sea wall in Dawlish, Devon, collapsed and left the railway to Cornwall suspended in mid-air. | A section of the sea wall in Dawlish, Devon, collapsed and left the railway to Cornwall suspended in mid-air. |
| Residents of homes on the Somerset Levels were evacuated amid fears flood defences could be overwhelmed. | Residents of homes on the Somerset Levels were evacuated amid fears flood defences could be overwhelmed. |
| David Cameron chaired his first Cobra meeting this year and announced an extra £100m for flood works. | David Cameron chaired his first Cobra meeting this year and announced an extra £100m for flood works. |
| At Prime Minister's Questions he pledged £75m for repairs over the next year, £10m for urgent work in Somerset - where several rivers have flooded - and £15m for maintenance. | At Prime Minister's Questions he pledged £75m for repairs over the next year, £10m for urgent work in Somerset - where several rivers have flooded - and £15m for maintenance. |
| Mr Cameron said he would "ensure that everything that can be done to get stricken communities moving is being done: there are no restrictions on help". | Mr Cameron said he would "ensure that everything that can be done to get stricken communities moving is being done: there are no restrictions on help". |
| The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Cameron had given the "clearest possible sign" that he needed to "be seen to be getting a grip" on the response to the floods. | The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Cameron had given the "clearest possible sign" that he needed to "be seen to be getting a grip" on the response to the floods. |
| Environment Secretary Owen Paterson's handling of the crisis has been widely criticised. | Environment Secretary Owen Paterson's handling of the crisis has been widely criticised. |
| He will not be chairing the Cobra emergency committee or giving a statement to the House of Commons on Thursday after being diagnosed with a detached retina. Instead, Mr Paterson will undergo emergency surgery. | He will not be chairing the Cobra emergency committee or giving a statement to the House of Commons on Thursday after being diagnosed with a detached retina. Instead, Mr Paterson will undergo emergency surgery. |
| Western Power Distribution said about 44,000 customers had been affected by power cuts since Tuesday afternoon. | Western Power Distribution said about 44,000 customers had been affected by power cuts since Tuesday afternoon. |
| By 22:00 GMT on Wednesday, thousands of homes had been reconnected but 953 customers remained without power across the South West. In Cornwall, 490 were still cut off. | By 22:00 GMT on Wednesday, thousands of homes had been reconnected but 953 customers remained without power across the South West. In Cornwall, 490 were still cut off. |
| On the Somerset Levels, police used a helicopter to advise the occupants of more than 150 properties in Fordgate and Northmoor to leave their homes. | On the Somerset Levels, police used a helicopter to advise the occupants of more than 150 properties in Fordgate and Northmoor to leave their homes. |
| Forecasters say there will be an "improving picture" on Wednesday evening. But there will be rain moving up from the south coast on Thursday morning which will spread to south-west England in late morning. About 20-30mm of rain is expected throughout the day. | Forecasters say there will be an "improving picture" on Wednesday evening. But there will be rain moving up from the south coast on Thursday morning which will spread to south-west England in late morning. About 20-30mm of rain is expected throughout the day. |
| More heavy rain and gales are forecast for Friday night into Saturday. | More heavy rain and gales are forecast for Friday night into Saturday. |
| Dawlish resident Robert Parker said the storm was "like the end of the world". | Dawlish resident Robert Parker said the storm was "like the end of the world". |
| He said: "It was like an earthquake. I've never experienced anything like it. I've been in some terrible storms in the North Sea, but last night was just a force of nature." | He said: "It was like an earthquake. I've never experienced anything like it. I've been in some terrible storms in the North Sea, but last night was just a force of nature." |
| First Great Western said all lines between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth were closed because of the collapsed track at Dawlish and the bad weather. | First Great Western said all lines between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth were closed because of the collapsed track at Dawlish and the bad weather. |
| Limited services are running between Plymouth and Penzance, with rail replacement services due to be provided from Thursday. | Limited services are running between Plymouth and Penzance, with rail replacement services due to be provided from Thursday. |
| Network Rail has estimated the damage at Dawlish could take at least six weeks to fix. First Great Western said the repairs could not begin until the weather improved. | Network Rail has estimated the damage at Dawlish could take at least six weeks to fix. First Great Western said the repairs could not begin until the weather improved. |
| Speaking after the Cobra meeting, the prime minister said he was "determined to ensure a proper alternative service" was provided while the railway line at Dawlish remained out of use, with a solution found to fix it as soon as possible. | Speaking after the Cobra meeting, the prime minister said he was "determined to ensure a proper alternative service" was provided while the railway line at Dawlish remained out of use, with a solution found to fix it as soon as possible. |
| The Environment Agency has two severe flood warnings in place in south-west England - meaning there is a danger to life - down from a high of nine earlier on Wednesday. | The Environment Agency has two severe flood warnings in place in south-west England - meaning there is a danger to life - down from a high of nine earlier on Wednesday. |
| It has also issued about 60 flood warnings and more than 200 flood alerts. | It has also issued about 60 flood warnings and more than 200 flood alerts. |
| The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued five flood warnings and several flood alerts. | The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued five flood warnings and several flood alerts. |
| The Met Office has issued an amber severe weather warning for rain - meaning "be prepared"- from 15:00 GMT on Thursday until 23:00 GMT on Saturday across southern England. | The Met Office has issued an amber severe weather warning for rain - meaning "be prepared"- from 15:00 GMT on Thursday until 23:00 GMT on Saturday across southern England. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| Firefighters have also been called out to deal with dangerous structures. There have been two incidents in the Tenby area of Pembrokeshire with roofing being blown off buildings. | Firefighters have also been called out to deal with dangerous structures. There have been two incidents in the Tenby area of Pembrokeshire with roofing being blown off buildings. |