The remnants of Hurricane Kirk swept into southern France on Wednesday, causing destruction throughout Western Europe.
Torrential rain and strong winds hit the region, leaving at least one person dead in the French port city of Sète, where a storm surge overturned three boats. Authorities reported that an amateur sailor lost their life, while another remains in critical condition.
The storm left 64,000 people without power in southern France, with multiple roads flooded and emergency services working to clear debris. The French government has placed 29 departments on orange alert and issued a red alert for the Seine-et-Marne region due to potential flooding along the swollen Grand Morin River.
In a press briefing, Energy and Ecological Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher warned that such severe weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change, urging citizens to remain cautious.
Portugal and Spain were also heavily affected. Portugal experienced 300,000 power outages and widespread damage, with the northern city of Porto seeing the worst of it. In Spain, the regions of Asturias and Galicia faced winds of up to 140 kilometers per hour, leading to blocked roads and mudslides.
Authorities across Western Europe continue to monitor the situation as remnants of Hurricane Kirk bring further risks of flooding and storm damage.
