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UK storm: Damage across Devon and Cornwall UK storms: Damage across Devon and Cornwall
(about 2 hours later)
Thousands of homes are without power following storms which have again battered the South West. The reopening of the South West's main rail link will be delayed after storms caused more damage at Dawlish in Devon.
Across Devon and Cornwall, trees have been brought down, closing roads and causing structural damage. Massive waves crashed over a temporary breakwater put in place after storm damage last week left the rail track suspended in mid air.
Engineers are due to inspect homes in Dawlish that were evacuated on Friday night when massive waves crashed over a temporary breakwater. Julian Burnell from Network Rail said the tops of the breakwater containers were "peeled back like banana skins".
The breakwater - made from containers - was put in place after serious storm damage last week. It had been hoped to complete the repairs in six weeks but that was now "highly unlikely", Mr Burnell said.
More than 300 emergency calls were made to Cornwall and Devon and Somerset's fire services over a 24-hour period - a "significantly" higher number than normal. He told BBC News the timescale to get the trains running again had been based on the assumption there was no further damage.
Devon and Cornwall Police said they received about 900 999 calls - three times more than normal. "Unfortunately there has been more damage to the sea wall and until we can properly assess the extent of it, it is impossible to say how long the delay will be," he told BBC News.
On the rail network, no trains are running south of Exeter. However, Mr Burnell said concrete sprayed on to the damaged cliff wall appeared to have "held" and a scaffolding bridge erected to enable access for repair engineers did not appear to have been damaged.
Julian Burnell from Network Rail said the tops of the breakwater containers at Dawlish had been "peeled back like banana skins" and some looked like they had been "beaten with a gigantic hammer". Structural engineers and building controllers have inspected 30 homes in nearby Sea Lawn Terrace that had to be evacuated on Friday night amid safety concerns.
However, liquid concrete sprayed on to the damaged cliff wall appeared to have "held" and a scaffolding bridge erected for repair engineers' access did not appear to have been affected. Elsewhere, the storms have left thousands of households without power, trees have been brought down and there has been flooding and structural damage.
"Obviously we have to inspect these things, but fingers crossed, things are looking relatively good," Mr Burnell told BBC News. More than a thousand 999 calls were made to the police and fire services over a 24-hour period - a "significantly" higher number than normal.
An aerial survey of train lines in Cornwall is being carried out after all services were suspended because of flooding on the lines. An aerial survey of train lines in Cornwall has been carried out after all services were suspended because of flooding on the lines.
First Great Western said depending on the result, some services may resume later, but until a decision is made passengers have been advised not to attempt to travel. First Great Western said some services may resume later, but passengers were advised not to attempt to travel until a decision was made.
In other developments, a crewman badly injured at sea on Friday has now been flown to hospital. In other developments, a crewman badly injured at sea on Friday has been flown to hospital.
When the 36-year-old Thai national was hurt in a fall on board the Mathawee Naree off the Cornish coast on Friday night, conditions were too severe for an air or sea rescue.When the 36-year-old Thai national was hurt in a fall on board the Mathawee Naree off the Cornish coast on Friday night, conditions were too severe for an air or sea rescue.
However Falmouth Coastguard said an RNAS Culdrose helicopter was able to airlift the casualty on Saturday morning.However Falmouth Coastguard said an RNAS Culdrose helicopter was able to airlift the casualty on Saturday morning.
An 80ft (25m) oak tree - nearly 200 years old - closed the main A379 near Starcross in Devon, and a wall at Hyde Park Infant School in Plymouth was demolished by a tree. The coastguard also reported that a decomposed whale that washed ashore at Marazion had been dead "for some time".
Cornwall Council and the Natural History Museum had been informed and the carcass would be "disposed of in due course", it added.
An 80ft (25m) oak tree - nearly 200 years old - closed the main A379 near Starcross in Devon, and a wall at Hyde Park Infant School in Plymouth was demolished by a horse chestnut tree.
Four people were rescued from cars about to be washed away at Slapton in south Devon on Friday night. Two cars were left trapped on the coast road after storms covered it in sand and shingle.Four people were rescued from cars about to be washed away at Slapton in south Devon on Friday night. Two cars were left trapped on the coast road after storms covered it in sand and shingle.
Western Power Distribution said at 09:00 GMT about 9,000 households in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset were still without electricity. Western Power Distribution said at 09:00 GMT about 9,000 households in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset were still without electricity, as engineers dealt with more than 250 separate incidents - some of which were "very challenging".
A spokeswoman said engineers were dealing with more than 250 separate incidents - some of which were "very challenging". More than 50 Environment Agency flood warnings and alerts remain in place for the South West, including two severe warnings, meaning a danger to life.
"We're 12 times busier than normal and working as hard as we can," she said.
More than 100 Environment Agency flood warnings and alerts remain in place for the South West, including five severe warnings, meaning a danger to life.
Flooding was reported across the region, including Newlyn, Penzance, Kingsand, Plymouth, Kingsbridge and Salcombe.Flooding was reported across the region, including Newlyn, Penzance, Kingsand, Plymouth, Kingsbridge and Salcombe.
Are you in the affected areas? Have you been affected by the flooding? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the affected areas? Have you been affected by the flooding? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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