On Monday, an Atlantic storm bringing hurricane-strength winds and heavy rain hit Northern Europe. Between England, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark, at least 13 people were killed. Authorities say that many of the victims were hit by falling trees.
Cleanup operations were in full force on Tuesday, but in Britain, Tim Field with the Energy Networks Association reported 61,000 homes still to be without power. “This was as a result of networks’ being broken by objects such as trees, branches or road signs blown by the strong winds,” Field said.
Travel was also impacted, as trains, planes and ferries had to be delayed because of high winds. At Heathrow airport, around 130 flights were cancelled. Thousands of people are still unable to travel to work because of the transportation shutdowns, and many are thinking that some services should not have been cancelled. “Everyone has to act on the basis of the evidence that they are given and the information that they are given,” Prime Minister David Cameron said. “Obviously, afterwards we will be able to look back and see whether people made the right decisions.”
