Severe storms hit Paris, leave 2 dead, dozens injured across France

Severe storms hit Paris, leave 2 dead, dozens injured across France
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Severe storms struck Paris and large parts of France late Wednesday, causing widespread damage, two deaths, and multiple injuries. The rare weather event, described by authorities as a “derecho” — a powerful, long-lasting windstorm stretching nearly 700 kilometers — brought torrential rain and fierce winds reaching up to 135 km/h.

In Paris, the storm hit around 9 pm local time, reducing visibility to less than 50 meters and flooding streets. Firefighters responded to hundreds of incidents, including about 50 uprooted trees blocking major roads. Several metro stations closed due to flooding or debris. Water leaks inside the National Assembly forced a temporary suspension of a Middle East debate.

Two fatalities were reported: a 12-year-old boy in Tarn-et-Garonne died after a tree fell near a stream, and a man in Mayenne was killed when a tree collapsed on a road. Seventeen people were injured, one critically.

The storm disrupted train services nationwide and left approximately 110,000 homes without electricity overnight, with 100,000 still affected by Thursday morning. In Normandy, a church’s bell tower collapsed. Paris parks remained closed for safety checks. Students impacted by the storm will be allowed to retake national exams.