Death reported as storms hit France

At least one person has died after violent storms swept across south-western France, knocking down trees and causing dozens of injuries.

Trees came crashing down on mobile homes and in camping sites last night, leaving at least 60 people injured, according to officials in the Landes district, one of the hardest hit by the storms, which came after days of intense heat. Eleven of those injured were taken to hospital, with seven reportedly in a serious condition.

Authorities were working last night to relocate those whose mobile homes and camping facilities were damaged by the storms.

At a campsite in the town of Sanguinet, about 100 people were provided temporary shelter after trees damaged their tents and mobile homes, said David Jario, the campsite’s owner.

In the Gironde district, which includes Bordeaux, traffic was slowed on several highways and secondary roads due to the heavy rains and fallen trees, said the National Centre for Road Information.

In the nearby Pyrenees-Atlantiques district, which borders Spain, fire officials registered some 200 calls for help – mainly from flooding and damaged rooftops. No injuries were reported.

Power cuts were reported in several areas, authorities said.

France’s national weather service, Meteo France, issued a storm warning across western France, where heavy rain and occasional hail were forecast through the night.