Storm Amy Claims Two Lives in Northern France Amid Severe Weather Alerts

Storm Amy has resulted in two fatalities in northern France on Saturday, according to reports from local authorities and Météo-France. A 48-year-old man drowned in Étretat, Seine-Maritime, after going for a swim in adverse weather conditions. His body was recovered at 4 PM during low tide. Meanwhile, in the Aisne department, a 25-year-old man died in a road accident caused by a large tree branch falling onto his vehicle. A passenger in the same car was seriously injured and hospitalized in Amiens.

The storm has severely impacted the region, with six departments — Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Aisne, Somme, Oise, and Seine-Maritime — placed under orange wind alerts by Météo-France. Wind gusts reached up to 131 km/h at Cap-de-la-Hève and 122 km/h in Dieppe. Initially, up to 5,000 households in Normandy experienced power outages, a figure that fluctuated throughout the day as winds intensified.

As a safety measure, speed restrictions were implemented on highways and national roads across the Hauts-de-France region, lasting until 8 PM Saturday. Authorities expect the storm to weaken and anticipate thunderstorms later in the evening.

Storm Amy, which originated from the British Isles where it already caused at least one death, has brought intense winds and hazardous conditions to northern France, prompting significant warnings and emergency responses.

According to Le Figaro, the drowning victim was unable to be rescued due to the violent weather, while France 24 highlighted the severe impact of Amy resulting in casualties and extensive disruptions. Météo-France’s orange alerts underscore the dangerous conditions still affecting the area.