Storm Ciarán whips western Europe, blowing record winds in France and leaving millions without power

By ANGELA CHARLTON and ED DAVEY
Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — Record-breaking winds in France and across much of western Europe left at least seven people dead and injured others. Storm Ciarán charged through the continent Thursday. Vast numbers of people were plunged into darkness, homes were devastated and travel was disrupted in several countries. Roofs were torn from homes on the Channel Islands where gusts of more than 100 mph were reported, and travel disruption in several countries were severe. The storm blew out windows and left 1.2 million French households without electricity. A truck driver was killed when a tree hit his vehicle in northern France and emergency workers hurt. Hundreds of schools stayed closed in the English coastal communities of Cornwall and Devon.