Storm Eunice as it happened: Four dead, 200,000 without power and O2 torn to shreds

17 February 2022, 16:06 | Updated: 18 February 2022, 20:05

The roof of the iconic O2 arena in London has been damaged in high winds as Storm Eunice thrashes the UK.

Video footage shows what appears to be a split in the white roof, that is flapping in the gales. Six panels have now been ripped off.

A gust of 122mph was recorded on the Needles on the Isle of Wight - higher than the strongest gust recorded in the Great Storm of 1987, although the Met Office did concede this was an especially exposed location.

A rare red alert was put in place for most of the east and southeast of England until the afternoon, including the whole of London.

It joined a red weather warning that was already in place for Wales and southwest England, but both have since expired.

The Met Office has also issued new weather warnings for wind, ice, and rain over the weekend until Monday.

The O2 arena roof has been ripped during Storm Eunice

Read more: Brits warned not to leave home as worst storm in 30 years batters UK with 100mph winds

Read more: Storm Dudley claims first victim after lorry driver falls off HGV

Boris Johnson has said the army is on standby to assist and it emerged a man died after falling off a lorry in high winds during Eunice's predecessor Storm Dudley.

In key developments so far:

• The roof of the O2 arena has been torn open by strong winds
• Transport has been thrown into chaos, with hundreds of trains cancelled, flights grounded and roads closed
• Almost all of England and Wales are under weather warnings - including London's first ever red 'danger to life' warning
• There are more weather warnings in place over the weekend

Recapped: All the latest updates in our blog below.

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