Storm Kirk, wey be de remnants of Hurricane Kirk, don cause serious damage and disruption across western Europe, especially in Portugal and Spain. On Wednesday, de storm sweep through de region, tearing up trees and causing power cuts.
In Portugal, over 1,300 incidents were reported overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, with most of dem involving fallen trees in de north of de country. Porto, de main northern city, was hit hardest, with 400 trees uprooted. Cars were also damaged, and rail services were interrupted near Barcelos. More than 300,000 households lost power, according to de country’s electricity supplier.
In Spain, de storm also caused significant damage, especially in de north and northwest regions. Spanish weather officials issued an orange alert for de area, warning of winds up to 140 kilometers per hour in de Asturias region. Galicia reported roads blocked by mud slides and fallen trees in urban areas.
France was not spared either, as de storm dumped heavy rains and caused flooding. A storm swell in de Mediterranean off de port city of Sete in southern France overturned three boats, killing one amateur sailor and putting another in de hospital in critical condition. About 64,000 people in de south of France were left without power, and several departments reported roads cut off by floodwaters.
De French government mobilized all state services to respond to de crisis, with Energy and Ecological Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher urging citizens to be careful. She noted that such episodes will recur due to climate change.
