Disruptions in transport and power cuts in France and the United Kingdom

Gusts of nearly 200 km/h on the coasts, deserted London, massive power cuts… Storm Eunice hit southern England on Friday before heading towards northern France and Belgium. 20 minutes make the point.

French regional trains impacted

In several departments of Hauts-de-France and Normandy, regional trains are stopped this Friday. No, it’s not because of a strike but of the storm Eunice whose violent winds prevent the circulation of TER.

“No major damage” had however been recorded on the Hauts-de-France network at midday, said the regional service of the SNCF. The circulation of the TER connecting Paris to Amiens, Saint-Quentin, Beauvais and Laon, has been maintained, as well as that of the TGV between Paris and Lille or Calais. Those traveling on classic lines (Paris-Valenciennes or Dunkirk) are however suspended. The estimated resumption of traffic throughout the impacted area is scheduled for Saturday, according to the SNCF.

The impact on air traffic

A plane that linked Bordeaux and London had to turn back after twice trying to land at Gatwick airport, while a Qatar Airways A380 managed to land on the tarmac at Heathrow on his third attempt, in front of some 230,000 Internet users riveted to the channel in live Big Jet TV, on YouTube, went viral.

“There is a danger of life during this kind of major weather event,” warned British Secretary of State for Security Damian Hinds on Sky News, stressing that the army was ready to be deployed to deal with it. to what could be one of the biggest storms of the last three decades.

Gusts and risks on the beaches of France

At the end of the morning, gusts reached 110 km / h at Cap Gris-Nez in Pas-de-Calais, and could exceed 140 km / h locally on the coast in the afternoon, according to Météo-France. The maximum risk of submersion is in the Bay of Somme, said the organization.

Five departments, Nord (59), Manche (50), Pas-de-Calais (62), Somme (80), and Seine-Maritime (76) are on orange alert until 6 p.m. due to strong winds. The last three are also on orange alert until 3:00 p.m. for the risk of submersion.

Access to the beach was prohibited in the seaside resort of Le Touquet as well as in several coastal towns, such as Wimereux (Pas-de-Calais), where the municipal police blocked access to the dikes to onlookers. Access to parks and gardens has been closed in many localities, and the prefectures have called for people to avoid the seaside and forests, limit risky activities and inquire before any trip.

The situation across the Channel

In the UK, large swaths of the country, including London, were placed on maximum weather alert. A gust of 196 km / h was recorded on the Isle of Wight, unheard of in England, while others were measured at more than 110 km / h inland, including at London Heathrow airport.

Millions of Britons have been told to stay at home by the Met Office, Britain’s weather service, which has issued red alert levels – the highest level – over south-west England, the south of the country of Wales but also for the South East including London.

More than 70,000 homes were without power at midday in the southwest of England, according to the network operator. Many schools remained closed and an interministerial crisis meeting is scheduled for the afternoon.


source site