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Wales weather: Roof blown off flats in storms Wales weather: Roof blown off flats in storms
(about 1 hour later)
Seventeen people have been evacuated from flats in the Vale of Glamorgan after the roof blew off in strong winds overnight. Seventeen people have been evacuated from flats in the Vale of Glamorgan after part of the roof blew off in strong winds overnight.
Fire crews were called to Rowan Court in Barry at 01:00 GMT.Fire crews were called to Rowan Court in Barry at 01:00 GMT.
Heavy rain and strong winds hit Wales overnight and forecasters have warned of further storms on Saturday bringing a threat of flooding.Heavy rain and strong winds hit Wales overnight and forecasters have warned of further storms on Saturday bringing a threat of flooding.
It comes as engineers battle to restore power to 4,000 homes without electricity in mid and north Wales.It comes as engineers battle to restore power to 4,000 homes without electricity in mid and north Wales.
ScottishPower said it hoped to have customers reconnected by midnight.
Three flood warnings and 30 alerts have been issued by Natural Resources Wales.Three flood warnings and 30 alerts have been issued by Natural Resources Wales.
As fresh storms move in, the Welsh government said it was waiting to hear if funding would be available from the UK government to help businesses.As fresh storms move in, the Welsh government said it was waiting to hear if funding would be available from the UK government to help businesses.
It follow the prime minister's "no penny pinching" pledge on flood relief.It follow the prime minister's "no penny pinching" pledge on flood relief.
The Met Office issued a yellow "be aware" alert of downpours stretching across south, west and mid Wales on Saturday.The Met Office issued a yellow "be aware" alert of downpours stretching across south, west and mid Wales on Saturday.
There could be between 5 and 10mm of rain within an hour, with the risk of localised flooding.There could be between 5 and 10mm of rain within an hour, with the risk of localised flooding.
Three flood warnings have been issued:Three flood warnings have been issued:
A yellow alert for high winds is also in place across south and west Wales, with forecasters expecting gusts reaching up to 70 mph in exposed coastal areas.A yellow alert for high winds is also in place across south and west Wales, with forecasters expecting gusts reaching up to 70 mph in exposed coastal areas.
However, the winds are expected to ease through Saturday morning.However, the winds are expected to ease through Saturday morning.
In Barry, 17 people were evacuated from their flats after the roof was blown off in storms overnight.In Barry, 17 people were evacuated from their flats after the roof was blown off in storms overnight.
There were no reports of any injuries but the flats were said to have been been badly damaged by the wind and flooding.There were no reports of any injuries but the flats were said to have been been badly damaged by the wind and flooding.
And in Cardiff, James Roberts, 25, and his father had a lucky escape when a tree hit their house.And in Cardiff, James Roberts, 25, and his father had a lucky escape when a tree hit their house.
"We were both in bed when we heard a large part of a tree crash on to our house," he said."We were both in bed when we heard a large part of a tree crash on to our house," he said.
"We're a bit shaken, but grateful we came to no harm. We can't see any structural damage but it's too dangerous for us to go outside."We're a bit shaken, but grateful we came to no harm. We can't see any structural damage but it's too dangerous for us to go outside.
"It came crashing down from about 40 feet. We thought we were safe on a hill, but not from wind.""It came crashing down from about 40 feet. We thought we were safe on a hill, but not from wind."
Bad weather also caused travel disruption on Saturday morning:Bad weather also caused travel disruption on Saturday morning:
On Friday, it was confirmed that the storms on Wednesday had claimed the life of a Gwynedd man.On Friday, it was confirmed that the storms on Wednesday had claimed the life of a Gwynedd man.
Bob Thomas, 77, died in hospital after sustaining head injuries at his home near Caernarfon.Bob Thomas, 77, died in hospital after sustaining head injuries at his home near Caernarfon.
He had been with his wife in their garden at Caeathro moving hens when a tree fell and hit him.He had been with his wife in their garden at Caeathro moving hens when a tree fell and hit him.
High winds across north and mid Wales through Friday meant work to restore power supplies to thousands of properties was hampered.High winds across north and mid Wales through Friday meant work to restore power supplies to thousands of properties was hampered.
ScottishPower said engineers were working to restore power to 4,000 homes.ScottishPower said engineers were working to restore power to 4,000 homes.
On Saturday morning, Guy Jefferson, network operations director for ScottishPower, said nearly 3,000 customers were still cut off after Wednesday's storm and a further 1,000 lost power on Friday night in north Wales after "another bad night".On Saturday morning, Guy Jefferson, network operations director for ScottishPower, said nearly 3,000 customers were still cut off after Wednesday's storm and a further 1,000 lost power on Friday night in north Wales after "another bad night".
He told BBC Radio Wales: "There's pockets [without power] right across north Wales, but the main areas are Gwynedd, around Aberystwyth, Newtown and across to Dee valley where we have most of our customers off."He told BBC Radio Wales: "There's pockets [without power] right across north Wales, but the main areas are Gwynedd, around Aberystwyth, Newtown and across to Dee valley where we have most of our customers off."
He said engineers were out at "first light" and the company hoped to restore power for most by Saturday evening, although he warned it may be a "struggle" to reconnect those who were cut off on Friday.He said engineers were out at "first light" and the company hoped to restore power for most by Saturday evening, although he warned it may be a "struggle" to reconnect those who were cut off on Friday.
He apologised to customers for the inconvenience and thanked them for their patience, adding: "In one day, on Wednesday in north Wales, we had the equivalent of one year's worth of overhead line falls."He apologised to customers for the inconvenience and thanked them for their patience, adding: "In one day, on Wednesday in north Wales, we had the equivalent of one year's worth of overhead line falls."
The power company has now offered to meet the cost of buying meals for those affected since Wednesday's storms.The power company has now offered to meet the cost of buying meals for those affected since Wednesday's storms.
It said it would pay up to £30 per person a day, if they retained their receipts.It said it would pay up to £30 per person a day, if they retained their receipts.
Tony Fuse in Gellilydan, near Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd, is just one of those who spent 30 hours without power.Tony Fuse in Gellilydan, near Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd, is just one of those who spent 30 hours without power.
"It was my partner's birthday you see, and there was a power cut which started at about 3:45pm on Wednesday," he explained."It was my partner's birthday you see, and there was a power cut which started at about 3:45pm on Wednesday," he explained.
"We had intended to have a takeaway and a quiet night in at home, we had arranged for the little one to go over to stay with his grandma for the evening."We had intended to have a takeaway and a quiet night in at home, we had arranged for the little one to go over to stay with his grandma for the evening.
"We spent ages driving around trying to find somewhere open. It was pitch black and a lot of trees had fallen down, which made driving quite tricky.""We spent ages driving around trying to find somewhere open. It was pitch black and a lot of trees had fallen down, which made driving quite tricky."
But while for some the clear up is under way, others are still counting the cost of the storms - especially businesses.But while for some the clear up is under way, others are still counting the cost of the storms - especially businesses.
The Welsh government said it was now waiting to see whether funding would be made available by the UK government to ease that financial pain.The Welsh government said it was now waiting to see whether funding would be made available by the UK government to ease that financial pain.
David Cameron has said businesses hit by the floods in England will be able to claim 100% tax relief on business rates for three months.David Cameron has said businesses hit by the floods in England will be able to claim 100% tax relief on business rates for three months.
They will also be able to defer their tax payment.They will also be able to defer their tax payment.
The Welsh government will be eligible for a share of any extra funding that is released by the Treasury.The Welsh government will be eligible for a share of any extra funding that is released by the Treasury.
But if the money spent in England comes from the financial reserves of Whitehall departments, then Wales will not qualify for more cash.But if the money spent in England comes from the financial reserves of Whitehall departments, then Wales will not qualify for more cash.