Storm Domingos devastates France: power cuts and further damage
While France is barely recovering from the destruction caused by Storm Ciaran, a new storm named Domingos hit the country this Saturday. Although less intense than its predecessor, this new storm still led to power outages and caused further damage.
According to Météo-France, Domingos caused less strong wind gusts than Ciaran, but the areas already affected by the first storm are again threatened. Indeed, saturated soils and infrastructure still weakened by Ciaran’s violent winds risk further damage.
Authorities reported falling trees on roads in Charente-Maritime and Vendée, and firefighters intervened on numerous occasions to deal with the consequences of the storm. Repair work on the electricity network has also been slowed down due to unfavorable weather conditions.
In addition, Domingos led to new power cuts, depriving nearly 22,800 homes of electricity in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and more than 3,000 homes in Vienne. In total, around 176,000 homes are still without electricity since Ciaran’s devastation.
Transport was also disrupted, including the suspension of regional train traffic around La Rochelle and northwest of Bordeaux as a security measure.
Faced with this situation, the authorities remain vigilant and maintain several departments on orange alert, particularly for the risk of wave-submersion in Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, Alpes-Maritimes and Southern Corsica.
Storm Domingos is a stark reminder of the importance of preparing for severe weather and maintaining heightened vigilance in the face of climate change. Indeed, these extreme weather events have increased in recent years, highlighting the challenges that society must face to adapt and protect itself.