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240,000 homes left without electricity in north-eastern France due to hurricane winds

The speed of the wind caused by a powerful anticyclone reaches 130-140 km per hour

© EPA/IAN LANGSDON

PARIS, December 24. /ITAR-TASS/. In north-eastern France, 240 thousand homes were left without electricity on Tuesday due to gale-force wind. As reported by the National Meteorological Service Meteo-France, increased level of danger has been introduced in 21 departments.

“In particular, in Brittany 130 thousand homes were left without power. Electricity supply is likely to be restored by Tuesday evening,” French electricity supply company ERDF says in a report.

The speed of the wind caused by a powerful anticyclone reaches 130-140 km per hour on the French coast and 100-110 km per hour on land.

In the region, many trees have fallen, power lines are damaged, roofs of several houses were ripped off. At present, due to fallen trees the railway traffic in the west of the country, between Caen, Cherbourg and Wren, is completely interrupted. Over four dozen trains got stuck here. As a result of weather conditions, one person died.

In the Atlantic zone of France rescuers are searching a Russian sailor, who fell into the sea from a Dutch vessel. Wave height in the area exceeds four meters. Sea links with the UK, as well as with French islands in the region are interrupted.

According to weather forecasts, strong wind and rainfall on the major part of French territory would not stop until at least Tuesday night.

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