Storm Kirk tears through Spain, Portugal, heads for France

Lisbon: The remnants of Hurricane Kirk swept into western Europe Wednesday, tearing up trees in Portugal and Spain, before high winds and heavy rains...

Lisbon: The remnants of Hurricane Kirk swept into western Europe Wednesday, tearing up trees in Portugal and Spain, before high winds and heavy rains hit France.

Portugal's civil protection authority reported more than 1,300 incidents overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, three quarters of which involved fallen trees in the north of the country.

Porto, the main northern city, was hit hardest, with 400 trees uprooted. Cars were also damaged and rail services interrupted near Barcelos, also in the north.

The storm also cut power to more than 300,000 households, said the country's electricity supplier.

Weather and civil protection officials, having predicted winds of up to 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph) and heavy rain, put the coast on a yellow alert, as waves reached up to seven metres (23 feet) high.