Natural disaster as storm kills 47

INSURERS are preparing for a surge of claims this morning after France's deadliest storm in a decade.

Storm Xynthia brought winds of 150-200kph to large parts of the west and north of France early on Sunday morning.

At least 47 people have died. The worst-hit commune was L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer in the Vendée where 26 people drowned in their homes after he sea walls broke at about 2.00 on Sunday morning, submerging their properties under 2m of water within half an hour.

Rescue workers have freed 400 people from the area are still looking for 30 people reported missing in the commune and nearby La-Faute-sur-Mer.

Up to a million homes lost power, and about 500,000 are still without electricity this morning - mostly in Brittany, Limousin, Centre and Auvergne.

EDF chief executive Henri Proglio said 1,500 staff were working to get the supply restored within 48 hours, but it would take time to reach some parts of the distribution network because of the bad weather.

Natural disaster

Nicolas Sarkozy will be visiting parts of the Charente-Maritime and the Vendée this morning. The government has promised €1m in aid for regions - which should be approved within the next day or so.

Prime Minister François Fillon has declared a state of catastrophe naturelle and a ministerial decree to this effect should be published within 48 hours.

This is important because it means that insurers will also have to pay for flood damages.

French insurance body FFSA has reminded homeowners that damage to buildings caused by wind or rain comes as standard in home insurance policies.

Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has urged insurers to process claims as quickly as possible.

Fallen trees and overhead lines are causing delays of up to three hours this morning on trains from Paris to Bordeaux, Poitiers, Toulouse, Tours and Limoges. Air France has cancelled about 100 flights today and is recommending passengers check here before they travel.

A number of ski resorts in the Haute-Garonne and Hautes-Pyrénées have been badly damaged by the storm and could be forced to close for the rest of the season.

Business Minister Hervé Novelli has also announced €10,000 in aid for any small or medium-sized business hit by storm damage.

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Storm damage: how to claim insurance