Storms in western Europe cause power outages, prompt warnings

Storms in parts of western Europe left hundreds of thousands of households without power as severe weather warnings and flood alerts remained in place. According to dpa, storms sweeping through Britain and France since Monday have left at least four people dead. Gale-force winds and torrential rains also caused disruption in parts of Spain and Portugal. More than 200,000 homes were without power in France, with the north-west region of Brittany one of the worst affected, in the wake of a storms that caused flooding, French energy provider ERDF said. Severe storm and flood warnings remained in place in parts of Britain. Police said strong winds had cut power to some 100,000 homes in the south of England. Air, road and rail transportation was also disrupted.