Hundreds of thousands without power in France – Storm Benjamin sweeps across Europe

Storm Benjamin swept across western and Central Europe on Thursday, bringing hurricane-force winds to many areas.

France was particularly affected. There, the storm swept across the Normandy coast with peak gusts of up to 100 miles per hour. More than 100,000 households were temporarily without power.

The storm also left its mark on many other regions of France. Rail traffic was severely disrupted while falling trees damaged houses and cars.

A German tourist died in Corsica when he had an accident with his kayak.

Hurricane-force winds were also recorded in the Swiss Alps, Germany, and the highlands of Spain. However, the storm passed through these areas without causing any major damage.

The UK felt a glancing impact from the system as it passed through the English Channel, though gusts of around 75 mph saw rail lines disrupted, with a tree falling between Watford Junction and London Euston.