Storm Goretti cuts power to 380,000 in western France

A powerful storm named Goretti has battered western France with hurricane-force winds, causing major disruption. The severe weather knocked out electricity for hundreds of thousands of homes, blocked roads with fallen trees, and led to widespread train cancellations.
for approximately 380,000 homes and significant travel disruption. The French grid operator Enedis confirmed the scale of the blackouts following the storm's passage from Thursday into Friday.
Record Winds and Widespread Damage
The storm system produced exceptionally strong gusts, with a record speed of 213 km/h recorded in Gatteville, located in the Manche department. Regions like Normandy were heavily impacted, where fallen trees damaged power lines and blocked numerous roads. Emergency crews were deployed throughout the night to clear debris and begin restoration efforts.
Transport and Infrastructure Disruption
Rail services across northern France faced severe interruptions, prompting the national operator SNCF to cancel multiple lines. Travelers were advised to check for updates as crews assessed damage to the network. The storm's intensity also caused coastal flooding in several areas, compounding the challenges for local authorities.
Response and Easing Alerts
France's Interior Ministry reported that at least six people sustained minor injuries, but no serious casualties had been confirmed by Friday morning. The national weather service, Météo-France, lifted its highest-level alerts for most regions by the morning, though orange wind warnings remained in place for the Landes and Pyrenees-Atlantiques departments in the southwest.
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