Storm Austen sweeps northern France

Power cuts affect 161,000 homes across northern and western France, grid operator Enedis says, as Météo-France places 23 departments on orange wind alert.

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Grid operator Enedis says Brittany accounts for 128,000 of the 161,000 homes without power, with Pays de la Loire at 19,000 and Normandy at 14,000.

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Rail and road networks in northern France are disrupted, transport minister Philippe Tabarot says, as Storm Austen hits Normandy, Brittany and Hauts-de-France.

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Belgium's weather institute IRM has put Hainaut, both Flemish provinces and the coast under orange wind alert until 1 a.m. Saturday.

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Local weather stations measured gusts of up to 160 km/h in Brittany, NOS reports. Ferry services between the UK and France, including Dover-Calais, are cancelled.

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Power cuts affect more than 16,000 homes in southwest England, while Belgian ports halt shipping and close parks.

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A tree has collapsed in central Brussels near the Galeries de la Reine, causing material damage, Brussels firefighters confirm.

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Brussels transport operator STIB says seven tram lines are interrupted or replaced by T-buses as Storm Austen damages the network.

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Brussels firefighters say at least four people are injured by falling trees and branches, with about 70 storm call-outs still pending.

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Brussels Airport's spokesperson says two flights were diverted to Amsterdam Schiphol because of gusts, with delays of up to 30 minutes.

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