The remnants of Hurricane Kirk cause chaos in western Europe
The aftermath of Hurricane Kirk brought destruction to western Europe, with strong winds uprooting trees in Portugal and Spain and heavy rains causing havoc in France, resulting in one fatality.
In southern France, a storm surge overturned three boats near Sete, leading to the death of one sailor and leaving another critically injured. Additionally, 64,000 people were left without power in the south of France, with several roads becoming impassable due to flooding.
In response to the crisis, Energy and Ecological Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher stressed the impact of climate change on such extreme weather events and urged caution among citizens.
The Seine-et-Marne department near Paris was put on red alert for flooding, while 29 other departments were on orange alert due to heavy rains and strong winds. In Portugal, over 1,300 incidents were reported, mainly involving fallen trees in the north, leading to power cuts for over 300,000 households.
Despite the challenges faced, weather and civil protection officials remain vigilant, issuing alerts and warnings to ensure public safety.