50,000 homes without electricity after storms hit west France

[Pastor Dale Morgan]

*Perilous Times and Global Warming

50,000 homes without electricity after storms hit west France*

NANTES, France, Oct 24 (AFP) Oct 24, 2006

Some 50,000 homes were without electricity Tuesday after overnight
storms hit France's Atlantic coast, with winds of up to 130 kilometres
(80 miles) per hour.

Police and fire-officers in the region around Nantes received more than
300 calls, mainly for flooding and fallen trees.

A container ship carrying timber came aground on the Ile de Re after
losing power during the storm, and 20 of its 26 crew were taken off by
helicopter. A navy tug was preparing to tow it back to sea with the tide.

Forecasters said the storms were heading northeast, passing to west of
Paris and steadily losing force.