EXTRA: Weather deaths climb to four in France, 15 Europe-wide
Posted : Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:12:11 GMT
Author : DPA
Paris - The death toll Saturday climbed to four in France in a fierce winter storm that has claimed 15 lives Europe-wide, French officials said. French meteorologists said it was the worst storm to hit the country in ten years, and compared winds which reached184 kilometres an hour in Perpignan to hurricane Lothar which swept across western and central Europe in December 1999.
Two people were crushed by trees which fell on their cars. A 78- year-old man was felled by flying debris on his property. A woman who depended on a respirator to keep her alive at home died when the electricity went out. In total, 1.7 million households were without power in France alone.
The airports in Bordeaux and Toulouse were closed for hours-long stretches. Train service and car traffic was mostly stilled by fallen trees and utility poles.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy planned to visit the affected area on Sunday.
Authorities placed 15 departements in the area on high alert and advised the public to stay indoors. The Red Cross was called in to assist stranded travellers.
Streets were blocked by uprooted trees and railway lines were also affected, with trains stranded which were carrying hundreds of passengers. The Aquitaine bridge was closed to traffic. Winter sport facilities in the Pyrenees were also closed.
Many people were left homeless when winds ripped the roofs from their houses. Tens of thousands of French residents were also incommunicado, as the storm disrupted both landline and mobile phone service.
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