STORM GORETTI LASHES WESTERN FRANCE, LEAVING 380,000 WITHOUT POWER

BRUSSELS, Jan 9  (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Storm Goretti swept across western France overnight, bringing violent winds, coastal flooding and widespread disruption, leaving around 380,000 households without electricity, according to French grid operator Enedis, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

Power outages were reported across several western regions as strong wind gusts battered the country from Thursday night into Friday morning. In the Manche department, a gust of 213 kilometres per hour was recorded in the town of Gatteville, broadcaster BFMTV reported.

Significant damage was reported in Normandy, where fallen trees blocked roads and damaged power lines, causing large-scale electricity cuts. Emergency services worked through the night to clear debris and restore access to affected areas.

Rail traffic was also heavily disrupted. The French national rail operator SNCF said several train services were cancelled across northern France due to severe weather conditions, advising passengers to check updates before travelling.

The Interior Ministry said at least six people suffered minor injuries nationwide but confirmed that no serious injuries had been reported during the passage of the storm as of 8 am local time (0700 GMT).

Meteo-France said most violent wind alerts across the country had been lifted by Friday morning, with only the Landes and Pyrenees-Atlantiques departments remaining under orange alert for strong winds.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU