OMM Newsroom
Storm Austen has left 161,000 households without power in France, electricity network operator “Enedis” said early Friday, according to Anadolu Agency.
Of those affected, 128,000 households were in Brittany, 19,000 in Pays de la Loire and 14,000 in Normandy. “Enedis” said more than 2,000 employees were ready to intervene as soon as conditions allowed.
Before the storm’s arrival, 23 departments in northwestern France were placed under an orange alert because of strong winds.
Ferries linking France and England remained docked Friday morning amid strong winds and high waves, broadcaster “BFMTV” reported. Train services in regions affected by the storm were also severely disrupted at least until midday, it said.
In the department of Finistere, a crisis response centre was activated at the prefecture as strong winds were recorded. By midnight, departmental services had carried out 105 operations, particularly to clear roads, while firefighters had been mobilised for 45 interventions.
