At least 6 Dead in 224 km/h Storm Following Heatwave... France and Italy Suffer Consecutive Damages

Human Casualties Occur Even in Nearby Italy

Heavy rain in the southern region of France caused flooding on the roads. A man is crossing a road submerged in water.
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] A severe storm that struck Europe has caused multiple casualties. At least six people died on the Mediterranean island of Corsica in southern France, and two people were killed by falling trees in Italy, near Corsica.

According to AFP and AP on the 18th (local time), a storm with winds reaching up to 224 km/h hit the famous French Mediterranean resort island of Corsica, resulting in at least six deaths.

A 13-year-old girl was crushed to death by a fallen tree at a campsite on the west side of Corsica, and a 72-year-old female driver died when a cabin roof fell onto her moving car. In a bungalow located in the northern part of the island, a 46-year-old French man died after being struck by a falling tree. A 23-year-old Italian woman who was with him was seriously injured and transported to a hospital.

At sea, a 62-year-old fisherman and an unidentified man were found dead along with their kayaks. Additionally, power outages affected 45,000 households on Corsica, and more than 100 ships were stranded or wrecked.

The storm also impacted Italy, near Corsica. Foreign media reported that two people died after being crushed by trees in the cities of Lucca and Carrara in Tuscany, central-northern Italy.

In Venice, strong winds caused bricks to fall from the bell tower of St. Mark's Basilica, leading to restricted access. The nearby square was turned into chaos as tables and chairs were all overturned.

In Liguria, northwestern Italy, where hail the size of walnuts fell, house windows were broken and fruit orchards suffered damage from fallen fruit. Train services were suspended in Genoa, the capital of Liguria.

Meanwhile, Europe, which had been suffering from heatwaves and droughts for some time, is now struggling with heavy rains. On the 17th (local time), parts of the Paris subway were flooded, and in the southern coastal city of Marseille, water rose in the harbor and courthouse, leading to closures of nearby areas, causing continuous damage.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.