CAMELOT FANTASIES

Weather spoils Christmas mood


December 26, 2013 


LONDON: Over 50,000 homes in Britain were without power on Christmas day following recent storms, while hundreds of people were evacuated due to flooding. In parts of the United States and Canada, meanwhile, nearly half a million customers faced a cold and dark Christmas after a weekend of snowstorm.

Severe flood warnings were issued in Britain after torrential rainfall and hurricane-force winds battered the country.




In the US, the worst-affected state was Michigan, with about 180,000 homes and businesses still without power, utilities companies said.

In Canada, five people were reported dead from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning caused by heaters.

Fifty thousand homes across the UK are still without power on Wednesday morning, the Energy Networks Association said.

Five people — including a man who tried to rescue his dog from a river — have died in Britain over the last three days due to the high winds and heavy rainfall.

Maine, with its far smaller population, was badly hit. More than 70,000 customers in the Pine Tree State woke up on Christmas day without electricity.

Agencies