Weather alerts issued in Europe as 3rd storm in week causes damage

Madrid Desk, Feb 21 (EFE).- Weather warnings have been issued throughout parts of northern Europe as Storm Franklin on Monday became the third named storm to bear down on the region in less than a week.

Franklin follows Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice, the latter of which caused several deaths and widespread material damage.

In the Republic of Ireland, an estimated 29,000 people are without power due to disruptions caused by Storm Franklin, which brought 140kph (87mph) gusts of wind to the country.

The country’s meteorological office Met Éireann said the storm had since moved out toward the North Sea but warned that strong winds and high tide conditions could still bring flooding to coastal regions.

On Friday, an Irish council employee was killed by a falling tree during cleanup operations as Eunice battered the region.

The United Kingdom’s Met Office issued an amber warning for strong wind in Northern Ireland and yellow warnings in western Scotland, England and Wales.

The adverse conditions will hamper cleanup efforts following Friday’s Storm Eunice, which prompted a rare red warning — the highest possible — for parts of England including London. Three people were killed by Storm Eunice in the UK.

The effects of Storm Franklin are forecast to be felt in the Netherlands until later on Monday as Dutch authorities reported overnight damage to cars and buildings, including a supermarket in Maastricht, mostly caused by falling trees.

In the city of Groningen, at least 87 crows died when the tree they were in suddenly toppled.

On Friday, four people were killed by falling trees in the Netherlands as Storm Eunice moved through the country.

In France, a couple in their 70s died late Sunday when their car became submerged on a tidal road in Bricqueville sur Mer, emergency services said.

int/jt/ks