Severe Thunderstorms Kill Two, Disrupt Transit Across France
At least two people died and dozens of regions were placed on alert as powerful thunderstorms swept across France, flooding metro stations in Paris and prompting weather warnings nationwide.
Extreme weather lashes France after heatwave, triggering flooding, fatalities and widespread disruption. Photo: @dpa_intl
June 26, 2025 Hour: 2:29 am
France was battered by violent thunderstorms on Wednesday, leaving at least two people dead, another injured, and major disruptions across several regions. The storms brought heavy rainfall, hail, and strong winds, prompting emergency weather alerts in more than 40 departments.
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“After a severe heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius in several parts of mainland France, thunderstorms swept through most of the country on Wednesday, causing at least two deaths in Mayenne (western France) and Tarn-et-Garonne (southern France),” reported Le Figaro. The victims included a 59-year-old man on a quad bike and a 12-year-old boy, both killed by falling trees. An 82-year-old man was hospitalized after being struck by lightning.
The capital, Paris, was hit around 9:00 p.m., with torrential rains and hail causing flooding in several metro stations. “Several metro stations in the French capital were flooded and forced to close due to the storm that hit the metropolis,” reported Ici radio, citing the RATP public transit operator. Impacted stations included Guy Môquet on Line 13, Franklin D. Roosevelt on Lines 1 and 9, and Alma-Marceau on Line 9.
France’s national meteorological service placed nearly all regions under yellow alert, with orange alerts—indicating dangerous storm conditions—in effect across northern and eastern areas. Over 39,000 lightning strikes were recorded nationwide.
Authorities continue to assess the damage, as more storms may still affect the country in the coming days.
Author: MK
Source: RT _ PressTV
