Gale force winds whip up chaos across most of country 03/10/2006 00:00

3 October 2006

MADRID — Gale force winds whipped across Spain on Tuesday, injuring a number of people and causing widespread damage to property.

Winds of up to 160kmh were recorded in some parties of northern Spain.

Authorities have issued storm force warnings in Cantabria, Galicia, the Basque Country and Castilla y Leon.

A film crew were injured while they slept in Meruelo, when scenery fell on top of them.

Máximo Sainz, of the emergency services, said authorities were on red alert.

Emergency services received 130 calls since 3am, about trees, traffic signs, roofs and other objects which had been blown over.

There was a short power cut in La Penilla de Cayón and some roads were cut off when trees fell over, blocking the route.

Trains out of Santander towards Liérganes and Cabezón de la Sal were cut for short a time, but later restored.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news