Storm Patricia Hits West Coast of France

A strong storm named Patricia hit the west coast of France, causing rough waves along the Brittany and Manche coastlines. The storm resulted in the tragic death of a woman who was swimming in Ouessant, a town in the Finistère region, according to the local newspaper, Le Télégramme.

The incident was reported by a witness at 5:50 pm on the Corz beach, who saw three struggling swimmers. The authorities confirmed the information and stated that despite the efforts of the rescue team, they were unable to save the 57-year-old woman. Fortunately, her two sons were rescued and are in a state of shock but safe.

The victim, Sophie Marhic, was the daughter of former Finistère deputy, Jean-Yves Cozan. The local police and the mayor were present during the rescue operation, as reported by Le Télégramme.

Unfortunate Incidents and Rescues

In another unfortunate incident, a 10-year-old child near Saintes in Charente-Maritime was severely injured after being crushed by a falling tree, according to France Bleu La Rochelle. Additionally, a woman and her child who fell into the water while paddleboarding were rescued by the SNSM off the coast of Plouha in the Côtes-d'Armor region, as reported by France Bleu Armorique.

Météo France issued an orange alert for "waves and flooding" in four departments (Finistère, Côtes-d'Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine, and Manche) until midnight. Furthermore, 66 departments were on yellow alert due to strong gusts of wind on Wednesday.

Record-breaking Winds and Safety Measures

The wind speed reached 90 to 100 km/h in Finistère, breaking several records, including a gust of 89 km/h in Rennes, which is unprecedented for the month of August, according to Météo Bretagne. Due to a fallen tree on an electrical installation, train services were temporarily interrupted between Rennes and Redon in Ille-et-Vilaine, and between Bréauté and Le Havre in Normandy, according to local news sources.

To ensure public safety, the municipality of Saint-Malo in Ille-et-Vilaine prohibited pedestrian, cyclist, and motorized vehicle access to the seawalls from 6 pm to 11 pm. Other cities in Brittany, such as Quimper and Paimpol, also took preventive measures, including warning residents about potential road flooding and banning access to certain areas.

Several outdoor events and festivals scheduled for Wednesday evening were canceled or moved indoors in various Breton cities, including Lannion and Guingamp. The authorities urged residents to stay safe and take necessary precautions during the storm.

Words of the day

swimmers : nageurs

rescued : secourus