Feb 13 β€’ 06:41 UTC πŸ‡«πŸ‡· France France24

One person dead and hundreds of thousands without power after Storm Nils lashes France

Storm Nils has resulted in one fatality and left approximately 450,000 households in southern France without electricity.

Storm Nils has wreaked havoc across southern France, resulting in the death of a truck driver when a tree crashed through his windscreen. This violent weather event led to significant power outages, with approximately 450,000 households still lacking electricity as of Friday morning. The storm's impact was felt not only in France but also in neighboring regions, causing flight, train, and ferry cancellations, as well as disruptions to road travel in southern France, northern Spain, and parts of Portugal.

High winds and heavy rainfall caused extensive damage, prompting French officials to report dozens of injuries from weather-related incidents in nearby countries, while a major incident occurred in Portugal where a viaduct partially collapsed due to flooding. Meteorologists have described Storm Nils as "unusually strong", which underscores the increasing intensity of weather events related to climate change. The situation remains critical as recovery efforts begin, and local authorities work to restore power and support the affected communities.

In the wake of the storm, there are growing concerns about the state of infrastructure and the need for better preparedness for extreme weather events. With many areas still facing challenges such as blocked roads and dangerous conditions, officials are urging residents to remain cautious as clean-up and recovery efforts are initiated. The implications of this storm extend beyond immediate damages, highlighting the urgent need for better environmental policies and infrastructure resilience in light of increasing weather extremes.

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