LDS Freedom Forum

At least 51 people have been killed after a devastating storm lashed France and four other countries in western Europe over the weekend.

The storm, called Xynthia, whipped up powerful winds and torrential rains that blew off roofs, uprooted trees and washed away roads across the region.

It also took down power lines, leaving nearly 900,000 people in France without electricity.

Officials said 45 people were killed in France, three in Spain and one each in Germany, Portugal and Belgium.

Nearly 60 others were injured and more than a dozen are missing.

Many died of drowning in Sunday's disaster, while others were struck by collapsing debris as parts of buildings or trees and branches were ripped off by fierce winds.

Although Britain was not hit, London's Thames Barrier, the capital's flood defence, was closed on Sunday morning as a precaution.

France devastated
Xynthia also caused death and damage Spain, Germany, Portugal and Belgium [EPA]

France was the worst hit as heavy rains, strong gusts and high tides destroyed Atlantic coast sea walls, killing 25 people in the town of l'Aguillon sur Mer alone, city officials told French television.

The French regions of Vendee and Charente Maritime bore the brunt of the storm and were placed on flood alert along with parts of Brittany.

Helicopters lifted people to safety throughout the day.

Francois Fillon, the French prime minister, held an emergency cabinet meeting, calling the storm a "national catastrophe".

The government announced an immediate relief fund of 1 million euros ($1.36m) and tax relief for victims.

France also plans to ask the European Union (EU) to release funds from its regional budget to help pay for recovery operations.

kathyn wrote:Well, here on the "west bench" of the Salt Lake valley, we got 6 inches of snow. (And it was 70 the day before.) Some April's Fool's Day joke! On the bright side, the sun is out for a few minutes and the snow is melting.

holyhabanero wrote:This isn't really weather related per se, but Eyjafjallajokull, a Volcano in Iceland, has just erupted after being dormant for almost 200 years. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 03604.html

Jason wrote:Time to plant the garden....not watch the snow fly!

Tropical Storm Agatha Kills 150 in Central America

Stephen wrote:Check this out!

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Flooding- ... temalahole