A powerful storm, named Nils, has resulted in three deaths across France and Spain, officials have reported. The storm brought high winds, heavy rain, and widespread flooding to parts of southwestern France, northern Spain, and Portugal.
Impact and Damage
The storm caused significant disruption, forcing the cancellation of flights, trains, and ferries. Roads were flooded and trees uprooted, leaving thousands without power. Dozens more were injured in weather-related incidents in Spain.
In Spain, a woman died after the roof of an industrial warehouse collapsed. In France, one person died after falling from a ladder in their garden, following a previous incident where a truck driver was killed by a falling tree. A viaduct in Portugal also partially collapsed due to flooding.
Restoration Efforts
France’s electricity distributor, Enedis, mobilized around 3,000 workers to restore power. As of 6:00 am local time, service had been restored to 50% of the 900,000 customers initially without electricity. However, Enedis crisis director Herve Champenois noted that flooding is complicating repair efforts, as fields are waterlogged and roads are blocked.
Residents described the storm as unusually fierce. One resident in Perpignan stated, “I’ve never seen anything like it… A tree almost fell on my car – two seconds more and it would have.”
Looking Ahead
Forecasters indicated that the storm had moved eastwards away from French territory yesterday, but some areas remain on alert for flooding. Further disruptions could occur as floodwaters recede and damage assessments are completed. Continued monitoring of weather conditions is likely to be necessary in the affected regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people were affected by power outages?
Approximately 900,000 customers were initially without power in southern France. As of 6:00 am local time, service had been restored to 50% of those customers.
Where did the storm cause the most disruption?
The storm caused disruption in southern France, northern Spain, and parts of Portugal, with significant impacts reported in southwestern France.
What caused the deaths reported?
A truck driver died after a tree fell on his vehicle, a woman died after a warehouse roof collapsed, and one person died after falling from a ladder.
How will communities balance immediate recovery efforts with long-term resilience planning in the face of increasingly frequent extreme weather events?
