Severe Thunderstorm Causes Disruption in Gironde, Emergency Services Respond
A severe thunderstorm in Gironde results in significant damage and emergency interventions.
Key Points
- • Severe thunderstorm caused extensive damage in Gironde area, June 13-14, 2025.
- • No casualties reported; firefighters conducted 136 interventions in 18 municipalities.
- • 7,000 households were without power, and transport services experienced severe disruptions.
- • Météo-France issued a yellow vigilance warning following the storm.
A severe thunderstorm struck the Gironde department in southern France during the night of June 13 to 14, 2025, leading to extensive material damage and significant disruptions across multiple municipalities including Bordeaux, Mérignac, and Libourne. Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties as a result of this violent weather event.
Local firefighters reported conducting 136 interventions across 18 municipalities to address various emergencies caused by the storm. These included notable incidents such as a lightning strike in Carbon-Blanc that ignited a fire affecting two homes, leading to the evacuation of seven individuals. Additionally, flooding in Bordeaux damaged a military administrative building and resulted in power outages for 62 businesses and 212 homes. A commercial center fire in Libourne disrupted electricity for 13 businesses as well as 500 residences. In Canéjan, 21 apartments faced flooding, requiring residents to relocate. Emergency services also undertook rescue operations for five individuals trapped in vehicles due to rising waters in Pessac.
By 9 AM on June 14, approximately 7,000 households were still without electricity, as the local electricity provider Enedis worked diligently to restore power following the storm's destruction. Transportation services were severely impacted, with reports of seven rail crossings being blocked and delays affecting around twenty trains operating between Langon and Bordeaux.
Météo-France initially lifted the thunderstorm alert but subsequently issued a yellow vigilance warning for the evening of June 14. The local prefect urged residents to exercise caution, particularly during travel, as further adverse weather conditions could occur.
The significant response from emergency services underscores the severity of the storm's impact. Authorities remain vigilant and are monitoring the situation closely as recovery efforts continue.
Overall, while the physical damage is extensive, the prompt action and coordination among local agencies have successfully mitigated the human impact of the storm.