Winter storms in France cause blackouts and travel chaos

Heavy snows and rain hit the south of France over the weekend, killing three, knocking out power lines and trapping hundreds of travellers – in cars, trains and on ski lifts.

Authorities estimate that around 100,000 French households were without electricity as a result of the storms. Officials also reported that approximately 2,000 rail passengers were trapped on trains along the Mediterranean coast when heavy rains brought down power lines.

As much as 60 centimetres of snow fell during a 24-hour period in mountainous areas in southern France, and the national weather service issued avalanche alerts in 12 départements.

A cross-country visitor from Switzerland was killed in an avalanche and her husband was seriously injured in the Jura mountains of eastern France. A French woman was killed when she was hit by a train as she walked along an embankment covered with snow in the Savoie. The third reported fatality was a 50-year-old driver who died when he lost control of his car as he was driving on a snow-covered road in central France.

A number of major highways were closed due to accumulations of snow or water. In Haute Loire, fire crews rescued around 50 motorists who were stranded in the cars on a snowbound road.

www.sncf.com