Five dead as 200km/h winds batter Corsica

WEATHER

At least five people – including a teenage girl – have died and dozens were injured after sudden and extremely violent storms hit the French island of Corsica on Thursday morning.

Published: 18 August 2022 14:33 CEST
Updated: 18 August 2022 16:28 CEST

Bystanders look on at boats thrown onto the beach of Sagone in Coggia after strong winds struck the French Mediterranean island of Corsica. Photo by PASCAL POCHARD-CASABIANCA / AFP

Much of France has been experiencing storms and flash-flooding this week as temperatures cool after the latest heatwave episode, but the must violent yet was the storm that struck the Mediterranean island of Corsica on Thursday.

Winds of 224km/h were recorded in the south of the island and at least five people have died – including a 13-year-old girl who was staying on one of the island’s campsites, a 46-year-old man whose bungalow was smashed by a falling tree and a 72-year-old woman who died when debris fell onto her vehicle.

Maritime authorities later said a fisherman had died near Girolata, and a female kayaker near Erbalunga, north of Bastia.

At least 13 other people have been treated for weather-related injuries, with two people listed as being in a serious condition.

Impressive storm in Corsica #storm #corse #lilerousse pic.twitter.com/5zbp3xdqIP

— desnis (@olivierdesnis) August 18, 2022

“I was woken around 7:30 am by a very huge storm” that knocked out both electricity and mobile phone networks, Benjamin Roux, a 26-year-old tourist, told AFP.

He had been planning to go scuba diving, but instead helped the passengers of a boat who were sleeping aboard when it was suddenly thrown onto the shore by the choppy waves.

“They managed to get out without injuries, but they’re just devastated,” he told AFP.

Maritime authorities reported 60 to 70 sea rescue operations, mainly along the western coast that bore the brunt of the storm.

The storms have now moved off, according to Météo France which has lifted its orange weather warning for the island, but 45,000 homes remain without power.

Corsica, known as L’île de beauté, is one of France’s most popular holiday destinations and in August hotels, campsites and villas are generally full of tourists – both French and foreign.

Although storms on France’s Mediterranean coast are not unusual – especially at the end of the summer when the temperatures begin to fall – experts predict that this year the storms – known as Cevenol episodes – will be unusually intense because of the exceptionally high temperatures recorded over the Mediterranean.