Countries on alert as tail-end of Storm Kirk reaches Europe

The storm was a major hurricane as it moved between Bermuda in the Caribbean and the Azores in the mid-Atlantic over the weekend, peaking at a category four status.

Kirk has since weakened to a post-tropical storm.

The storm caused flooding in Portugal and left 300,000 people without power. Almost 600 incidents were recorded by the Civil Protection on Wednesday, most cases related to fallen trees.

Spain also saw heavy winds and rainfall, with waves as high as 7 metres crashing ashore, that is according to local media.

Storm Kirk mostly wreaked havoc in the northern half of the country. The strong gusts of wind caused rail and flight delays and cancellations, closure of parks, collapsed roofs and damaged property as a result of fallen trees.

Other countries brace themselves as the storm approaches Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Northern Germany.

The MET office triggered an amber weather warning in Belgium, and France is also on high alert for strong winds and heavy rainfall.