Powerful storm in France cuts electricity to 250,000 homes

A picture shows a fallen tree after the Aurore storm on October 21, 2021 in Plozevet, Brittany. – More than 250,000 homes are without electricity and train traffic is disrupted in northern France, mainly in Normandy, due to the strong winds that swept the country overnight from October 20 to 21. (Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP)

PARIS, France (AFP) — More than 250,000 homes in France were without electricity on Thursday after gale-force winds swept the north of the country overnight, power grid operator Enedis said.

Rail traffic was also affected by storm “Aurore”, which has been causing devastation since Wednesday afternoon.

Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said in a tweet that the Ile-de-France region around Paris, Normandy, northern France and eastern Lorraine regions were the worst affected.

Social media were abuzz with commuters sharing pictures of damage caused by falling trees.

In the western Brittany region, a number of homes were destroyed by flash floods.

Some 3,000 technicians have been deployed to restore power supply, Enedis said.

The Aurore gales, which headed towards the east of the country overnight, had triggered orange level weather alerts — the second-highest alert level — in many parts of the country Wednesday.

This had now been lifted in most places, but Thursday some 15 departments in the east of the country were still on the lower yellow alert.

© Agence France-Presse