Storms Elsa and Fabian leave nine dead across southern Europe
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The death toll from fierce back-to-back storms pummelling Spain, Portugal and France has risen to nine as the region reels from more powerful winds and flooding.
The death of a fisherman in Catalonia, who was swept away by strong waves in the Mediterranean, brought the number killed up to nine since Storm Elsa whipped across from Wednesday to Friday. Seven of the deaths have been in Spain and two in Portugal.
As that storm Elsa subsided, Storm Fabian barrelled off the Atlantic into Portugal, northern Spain and western France on Saturday packing winds of up to 170 kilometres per hour and dumping torrential rain.
Water-flooded agricultural structures in the flooded fields of Baixo Mondego due to rising water from the Mondego River caused by rain and bad weather in Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal. EPA-EFE/PAULO NOVAIS
Spain’s weather service has put the alert level for the entire northern coast and central parts of the country to “at risk” through Sunday into Monday.
The two storms sweeping through the region has caused rivers to burst their banks, brought down power lines and disrupted rail and air travel ahead of Christmas.
