Strong winds in France and Spain cause fatalities

On Saturday, four boys were killed in the outskirts of Barcelona when hurricane-force winds led to the collapse of a sports centre roof, authorities in Spain have reported.

Nine others, including two adults, were injured in the incident.

Severe storms in Spain and France were responsible for the deaths of at least six others, according to the reports of authorities in both countries.

The sports complex outside Barcelona collapsed at around 11:00am, local time, in Sant Boi de Llobregat, a western suburb of the city, not far from the Prat airport.

The boys who died in the accident ranged in age from nine to 12 years old. They were among the 17 youngsters who were playing baseball outside the centre when strong winds began to blow. Adults took 11 of the children inside the sports complex where they thought they would be protected from the storm, authorities told CNN+.

Strong wind gusts caused part of the centre’s concrete siding and its metal roof to collapse, falling on those inside. All those who stayed outside the building remained unhurt.

Emergency workers said they believed all survivors had been rescued and all bodies recovered from the wreckage by early in the afternoon.

According to the Spanish media, winds as strong as 99mph were reported in parts of Catalonia. Much of the rest of northern Spain has also been on the alert due to the strong winds.

www.bcn.cat