">Forum Views () 
">Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
Windstorms batter France, Britain on flood alert  
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
  
 
  
Navigation
Primary Navigation
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
 
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
 
Search
 
 
Search:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Windstorms batter France, Britain on flood alert
 
 
 
 
 
 
 AFP - Wednesday, February 11
PARIS (AFP) - - Severe windstorms left hundreds of thousands of homes without power across parts of France on Tuesday and forced authorities to shut down Paris' two main airports while Britain went on flood alert.
ADVERTISEMENT
  
Hurricane-force gusts of up to 140 kilometres (87 miles) per hour battered France's west coast late Monday as the second major storm in two weeks barrelled in from the Atlantic.
Bracing for severe winds, authorities shut down Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports overnight for the first time in 34 years, cancelling more than 200 flights.
The airport reopened at 10:00 am (0900 GMT) but Air France reported major delays for all incoming and outgoing flights.
The storm left some 900,000 homes without electricity late Monday and by midday Tuesday 400,000 households were still without power in central, eastern and northern France, the grid operator ERDF said.
French emergency services were called out hundreds of times to clear fallen trees and debris from roads, but there were no reports of casualties or major injuries.
French weather services were forecasting severe winds of up to 120 kilometres per hour later Tuesday in eastern France, but the storm was expected to peter out as it moved towards Germany and Belgium.
Air France said it put up 3,000 travellers in hotel rooms near Charles de Gaulle, one of Europe's busiest airports, and around 100 people spent the night in transit lounges, airport officials said.
In Britain, heavy rains and melting snow disrupted road and rail links and fuelled fears of flooding across parts of England and Wales, while storm-force winds contributed to delayed flights.
By 1400 GMT there were 276 flood warnings in place in England and Wales, including one severe flood warning in the Anglian region of eastern England, according to Britain's environment agency.
London's Thames Barrier was also closed to protect the British capital from a rising tide, and was expected to remain shut for most of the day, the agency said.
Up to 3,000 homes were left without electricity in parts of western England as a band of snow stretched from south Wales into the Midlands.
Bristol airport in southwest England was closed overnight because of heavy snowfall, with eight outbound flights and several inbound flights cancelled or diverted to other airports.
Some trains between London, Manchester in northwest England and Birmingham in central England were cancelled, while dozens of schools were closed for the day.
Still reeling from a major storm that left 11 people dead on France's southwest Atlantic coast on January 24, French authorities had spared no effort to prepare for the latest tempest.
School bus services were cancelled preemptively in several parts of France, and truck traffic was banned in several areas.
The French navy put three rescue vessels on standby to sail to the aid of ships in difficulty in the mouth of the Channel, and sandbags were deployed on sea fronts exposed to flood risks.
Ferries between Brittany and nearby islands were suspended, while Brittany Ferries postponed the inaugural sailing Tuesday of its service from Roscoff to Plymouth in southern Britain.
 
 
 
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
 
 
   
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
  
Related Articles: World
Double suicide blasts kill eight in Kabul: policeAFP -  40 minutes ago
Bomb blast in Kabul government buildingReuters - 1 hour 13 minutes ago
LA car wash owners accused of mistreating workersAP - 1 hour 25 minutes ago
Mexican violence leaves 1 soldier, 20 others deadAP - 1 hour 25 minutes ago
Israeli rivals battle for power after tight voteAFP - 1 hour 31 minutes ago
 
 
 
 
 
 Enlarge Photo
 
Giant waves hit Le Havre's jetty, northwestern France. Severe windstorms left hundreds of thousands of homes without power across parts of France on Tuesday and forced authorities to shut down Paris' two main airports while Britain went on flood alert.
 
 
 
Most Popular – World
 
 
 
 
 
 Viewed
 
 
 
 
Taliban video of Polish hostage beheading
 
 
Nissan to shed 20,000 jobs as recession woes mount
 
 
Swiss banks to announce massive losses: report
 
 
Obama vows mortgage aid as stimulus blitz hits Florida
 
 
Indian woman has football-sized tumour removed from jaw
 
 
View Complete List »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy 
- Terms of Service 
- Community 
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy 
- Help
        
    
 
   
 
Other News on Wednesday, 11 February 2009 Actor Faizon Love Charged With Felony Assault  
More Tibet unrest cannot be ruled out: officials
| International
|  
Ex-Village People Lead Singer Victor Willis Sues New Group For Using His Image And Voice  
Tom Cruise's Coffee Cup Up For Auction In Brazil  
Court denies Verizon petition on customer switching
| Technology
|  
U.S. lawmaker wants satellite companies to carry local TV
| Technology
|  
Intel to invest $7 billion in U.S. as recession deepens
| Technology
|  
General Motors To Cut Another 10,000 Jobs  
Leahy Proposes "Truth Commission" To Investigate Bush Administration  
Update: Close Senate Vote Passes $838 Billion Economic Stimulus  
New Jersey's Largest Utility Plans To Generate 120 Megawatts Of Electricity From Solar Panels Mounted On Power Poles, Schools, Municipal Buildings  
Man Distraught Over Losing Business Leads LA Police On Low-Speed Chase Before Shooting, Killing Self  
Developing: Senate Preparing To Vote On $838 Billion Stimulus  
Obama Pushes Stimulus In Florida As Senate Prepares Final Vote On $838 Billion Bill  
Update: Treasury Dept. Details Plan For Remaining Bailout Money  
U.S. Dairy Farmers Find Costs Exceed Income With Milk Prices Down  
U.S. Census Bureau Releases Data On Older Workers In Nevada; Last In Series Of Profiles By State  
Rihanna postpones Malaysian show amid attack case
| Entertainment
|  
Pfeiffer says mature actresses get better roles
| Entertainment
|  
Bob Marley family in licensing deal for clothes, food
| Entertainment
|  
Actors guild, studios set date for contract talks
| Entertainment
|  
Louvre sets stage for Funeral of Mona Lisa
| Entertainment
|  
Live Nation to buy Ticketmaster
| Entertainment
|  
Man Distraught Over Losing Business Leads LA Police On Low-Speed Chase Before Shooting, Killing Self  
Microsoft Secures 10,000th Patent This Month  
Ex-Taiwanese First Lady Owns Up To Money Laundering  
Tom Cruise's Coffee Cup Up For Auction In Brazil  
Disarray as Israeli election rivals claim victory
| International
|  
Double suicide blasts kill eight in Kabul: police  
With few details, Geithner plan disappoints markets  
Suicide blast, gunfire in Kabul: officials
| International
|  
Israeli rivals battle for power after tight vote  
Tsvangirai set to become Zimbabwe's PM  
Veteran Actor Phil Carey Of "One Life To Live" Dies At 83  
Australia sifts through ash to ID bushfire victims
| International
|  
Palestinians: No talks without settlement freeze  
Live Nation And Ticketmaster Announces Merger  
US lawmakers seek consensus on stimulus  
Ship movements signal possible North Korea missile test
| International
|  
Kadima beats Likud by single seat in Israel vote  
Obama turns on Wall Street  
Sri Lanka rebels deny gunning down civilians
| International
|  
Obama to decide soon on Afghan troop deployments  
EU seeks joint economic action amid French protectionism row  
Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai to take office as PM
| International
|  
Disarray as Israeli election rivals claim victory  
Spain withdraws cervical cancer shot after illnesses  
Drug gang clash with army kills 21 in Mexico
| International
|  
Israeli election too close to call, both claim win  
U.S. diplomat holds Afghan supply talks in Moscow
| International
|  
Giant horse chosen as Britain's 'Angel of the South'  
Divisive Lieberman a big winner in Israel election  
China prosecutors probe television complex blaze
| International
|  
Shark attacks diver in Sydney Harbour
| International
|  
Gates: Decision near on more troops in Afghanistan  
Netanyahu reinvents himself in election comeback  
GM leader says he'll meet stringent fuel standards  
European cities sign climate change agreement  
US-TECH Summary  
Google tool helps consumers reduce energy usage
| Technology
|  
Certicom agrees to RIM's sweetened takeover offer  
FBI Investigates Employer Of Retarded Workers Found In Squalid Iowa Bunkhouse  
Kuwaiti oil minister: Prices will continue to fall  
Crooks set cyber traps on Digg: security firm  
Many local TV stations to go ahead with DTV switch
| Technology
|  
Texas Peanut Processing Plant Closed  
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 576  
Medical Society Probes Doctor Who Implanted Embryos On Octuplets' Mom  
Google tool helps consumers reduce energy usage  
Certicom agrees to RIM's sweetened takeover offer
| Technology
|  
US grappling with Canada's exit from Afghanistan  
Feb 10 Highlights Of Low Points In The U.S. Economy  
Cuba looks to expand Internet access  
System peers under skin to reveal muscle actions
| Technology
|  
Afghan government must improve: Mullen  
Postage To Cost 2 Cents More Starting May 11  
IBM climbs further into the computing cloud  
College friends take fraternity dorm humor to TV
| Technology
|  
Tornado Damages Homes, Knocks Down Power Lines In Central Oklahoma  
Windstorms batter France, Britain on flood alert  
Gates jokes about North Korean missile test  
College friends take fraternity dorm humor to TV  
Cuba looks to expand Internet access
| Technology
|  
Pentagon Report Shows Obesity In U.S. Military Doubled Since 2003  
Clinton holds out hope for useful talks with Iran  
China's Monthly Auto Sales Overtake U.S. For First Time In January  
Bahrain Web crackdown triggers calls for reform  
Some dismayed at Obama indecision on human rights  
Wall Street Tumbles On Bank Bailout Plan  
System peers under skin to reveal muscle actions  
Geithner rescue plan fails to ease jitters  
SanDisk to mass produce 64GB memory cards  
China sentences 76 over Tibet riots: state media  
Thailand upset with Angelina Jolie refugee comments  
Sri Lanka govt denies shelling that killed 16 patients  
Heigl, Knight eye Grey's Anatomy exit: report
| Entertainment
|  
Suicide bombers attack Kabul  
Buena Vista bassist Cachaito Lopez dies at 76
| Entertainment
|  
Myanmar envoy brands boatpeople 'ugly as ogres': report  
Will Smith leads Forbes star bankability list
| Entertainment
|  
China report: 76 sentenced so far for Tibet riots  
Rihanna postpones show, police continue probe
| Entertainment
|  
Looting reported in Australian wildfire zone  
Old Hollywood dominates at Oscar fashion preview
| Entertainment
|  
China kills fowl after bird flu  
WALL-E the film to beat for animation Oscar
| Entertainment
|  
Ex-NKorean spy to meet family of Japanese abductee  
Hollywood actors, producers unions to meet next week  
NY Met manager says economy casts pall over opera
| Entertainment
|  
Frenchman arrested for locking out naked girlfriend: report  
Grammys, "Idol" music to networks' ears  
Old Hollywood dominates at Oscar fashion preview  
Many local TV stations to go ahead with DTV switch
| Entertainment
|  
Grammys, Idol music to networks' ears
| Entertainment
|  
WRAPUP 1-S.Korea loses most jobs in 5 yrs, rate cut seen  
Seoul shares fall on banks;automakers lend support  
Report: Japan banks nearing Nikko Cordial decision  
Golden oldie Spaniel 'Stump' wins dog show  
Pakistan receives no bids for 8-day repo  
Obesity in US military doubled since 2003  
Taiwan sells 20-yr bonds at 2.21 pct yield -c.bank  
NY Philharmonic to visit Vietnam on Asia tour  
China Jan exports fall sharpest in over a decade: govt  
Flight 1549 crew gets laughs on 'Letterman'  
China's January exports plunge 17.5 percent  
Hollywood actors, producers unions to meet next week  
Report: Morgan, Mitsubishi UFJ to merge brokerages  
Press corps in DC more specialized, international  
Japan's Elpida says no accord yet in Taiwan alliance talks  
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary  
Former Taiwan electronics executive indicted in US  
Grammys, "Idol" music to networks' ears  
'La Cage' impersonators revue closes in Las Vegas  
Music Review: Lily Allen's new album saucy, darker  
Taliban kills 26 in deadly assault on Kabul  
Markets glum on US crisis action, steel in distress  
D.A. Needs Further Investigation Before Formally Charging Chris Brown  
Bank says UK economy 'to shrink in 2009'  
16 dead, 45 wounded in twin Baghdad bombs: police
| International
|  
Bombs target Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad, killing 9  
Prosecutors Want Joe Francis Locked Up  
UK economy 'to shrink 4-6% in mid-2009'  
Page Not Found |  
Inconclusive election puts Israel, peace in limbo  
"Sopranos" Actor Vincent Pastore Settles $5.5 Million Assault Lawsuit  
Credit Suisse posts biggest full year loss ever  
Snoop Dogg Partners With MTV To Release New Album, Talk Show And Have His Music On Video Game  
Financial reform to get backseat ride at Rome G7
| International
|  
Iran dismisses report it faces raw uranium shortage  
"Got Milk" Ads Featuring Chris Brown To End This Week  
Taliban kill 20 in trio of Afghan capital attacks
| International
|  
U.S. envoy Holbrooke visits northwest Pakistan
| International
|  
20 hurt, attackers killed at Afghan ministry  
Jews say pope must condemn anti-Semitism in Church
| International
|  
Iran denies Cypriot-flagged ship carrying arms to Gaza  
Nazi hunters want German probe on war criminal Heim
| International
|  
16 dead and 45 wounded in twin Baghdad bombs  
Mobile connections surpass 4 billion mark worldwide
| Technology
|  
Twisted metal, cars in trees: tornado kills 15  
Nokia to cut production as phone market dives
| Technology
|  
U.S. Congress and White House seek final deal on stimulus  
Republicans Seek To Trim Stimulus As Conference Committee Negotiations Begin  
Google testing home electricity use software  
NYPD Slows Down Ground Zero Staffing  
U.S. Sec Of State Clinton Tells Czech Counterpart U.S. Is Willing To Reconsider Deploying Controversial Missile Shield If Iran Changes Behavior  
Democrats, Republicans Want More Details On Geithner's New Bailout Plan  
Intel To Spend $7 Billion For U.S. Factory Upgrades  
One Laptop Per Child Project Cuts XO Price By $24  
Al Franken In Capitol Hill To 'Prepare' For Senate Duties Despite Election Contest  
United Airlines Brings Back Call Center Jobs From India To U.S.  
Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase CEOs To Testify Wednesday On Their Use Of Bailout  
U.N. Chief Calls On U.S., China, India And Europe To Lead Way On Climate Change  
Wounded Sri Lankans describe chaos in north  
Bomb kills lawmaker in Pakistan as US envoy visits  
Malaysia's industrial output drops 15.6 percent  
SKorea, Japan urge NKorea to avoid provocation  
Attacks on Afghan government buildings kill 19  
China plans largest-ever military parade  
Red Cross denies stirring panic in Sri Lanka  
Navy diver attacked by shark in Sydney Harbour  
'American Idol' Hopefuls shine in solos  
Malaysia to cut electricity tariffs: minister  
Hollywood still misrepresenting blacks: US film-maker Burnett  
Asia's budget airlines eye growth, trade barriers  
Situation "very tense" in Tibet: Dalai Lama  
Chen remembers heroism of Peking Opera star Mei
| Entertainment
|  
Hong Kong stock index falls 2.5 percent  
Chinese exports, imports plunge, fanning worries  
Report: Morgan, Mitsubishi UFJ to merge brokerages  
Pakistan's 6-mth T-bill cut off yield at 13.8731  
Gunn, Roberts to host Oscars red-carpet arrivals  
Chinese exports, imports plunge in January  
Sting thrills Romania with Elizabethan music  
Taiwan dlr hits 4-1/2-yr closing low, exporters buy  
Gwyneth Paltrow, Courteney Cox party with Beyonce  
China to build Mecca monorail  
British rock band Oasis to play first China dates  
Budget carriers caution against protectionism  
ABC's Diane Sawyer reports on Appalachian poverty  
Woo epic, kung fu biopic lead HK nominations  
School board offers apology to singer Pete Seeger  
Indonesia court clears Tommy Suharto of graft  
'American Idol' Hopefuls shine in solos  
Chen remembers heroism of Peking Opera star Mei  
Hollywood still misrepresenting blacks: US film-maker Burnett  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights