Home / Disasters and Accidents / France Reels as Storm Nils Claims Life, Cuts Power
France Reels as Storm Nils Claims Life, Cuts Power
12 Feb
Summary
- Storm Nils caused one fatality and left nearly a million people without electricity.
- Heavy flooding submerged streets, requiring rescues from partially submerged vehicles.
- Schools and trains were cancelled, with traffic restrictions implemented due to high winds.
Storm Nils struck France on Wednesday, bringing destructive 100mph winds and heavy flooding that has left one man dead and plunged over 900,000 homes into darkness.
One fatality occurred when a tree branch fell on a truck in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, while another person was seriously injured by a falling tree in Tarn-et-Garonne. Firefighters rescued a woman from her vehicle after she attempted to cross a flooded road in Haute-Garonne.
Several departments faced extreme weather conditions, with four placed on red alert and 30 on orange. This has led to widespread disruptions, including school closures in Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales, and train cancellations in Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire, and Occitanie.
Traffic restrictions are in effect, particularly for heavy goods vehicles. Electricity network operator Endis reported 900,000 homes without power on Thursday morning, with significant outages in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie. Avalanches are also a concern in mountainous areas like the Alps.
The storm's impact is comparable to Storm Goretti, which caused damage in January. The situation remains critical, with authorities urging extreme caution and adherence to safety instructions.
