France: Storm Nils kills truck driver

According to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, one person died overnight in southwest France. According to media reports, it was a truck driver whose vehicle was hit by falling branches. Storm “Nils” is raging with devastating power in France and Spain – the highest severe weather warning level applies in several regions.

Early in the morning, around 850,000 households in the south of the country no longer had electricity, according to utility Enedis. There were also massive restrictions on road and rail traffic, and numerous trains were canceled.

Gusts of 160 km/h

Météo France spoke of one storm with “rare force” and declared the highest severe weather warning level, red, in five departments. During the night, gusts of more than 160 km/h whipped across the country.

Dramatic scenes also took place in the Spanish region of Catalonia. Authorities declared a red alert due to extreme winds and closed all schools as a precaution. Civil defense reported a seriously injured person who was hit by a falling tree. Uprooted trees temporarily blocked several traffic routes.

Hurricane gusts in Mallorca

On the island, which is popular with holidaymakers Mallorca the storm also raged with full force. Weather service Aemet recorded gusts of up to 150 km/h in the mountains. Initially there were no reports of casualties or major damage.