storm Nils raast door zuidwest-frankrijk met dodelijke gevolgen en massale stroomuitval

2026-02-12 buitenland

Dax, donderdag, 12 februari 2026.
Storm Nils trof gisteren hard het zuidwesten van Frankrijk. Een vrachtwagenchauffeur overleed na een boomval bij Dax. Windstoten bereikten 162 km/u. Ruim 900.000 huishoudens raakten zonder stroom door uitval van het netwerk van Enedis. De Gironde en andere rivieren traden buiten hun oevers. Er waren evacuaties in getroffen gebieden. Autoriteiten gaven rode waarschuwingen voor overstromingen en gevaren in de bergen. Reddingsoperaties werden opgeschaald. Dit is de vierde zware storm in Frankrijk dit jaar.

storm hits southwest france with fatal consequences

Storm Nils struck southwestern France on Wednesday, resulting in one fatality. A 55-year-old truck driver died near Dax in the Landes department after a tree branch crashed through his windshield during extreme winds [1]. Emergency services confirmed the incident occurred on the D824 road at Mées amid deteriorating weather conditions [2]. The storm brought violent wind gusts reaching 162 km/h in Biscarrosse, creating hazardous conditions across the region [3][4]. Local authorities immediately initiated emergency responses following the death, signaling the severity of the unfolding crisis [5].

power outages affect hundreds of thousands

Approximately 900,000 households lost electricity due to widespread grid failures attributed to Storm Nils [1]. Power distributor Enedis reported outages primarily concentrated in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie, with 498,000 and 365,000 affected homes respectively [5]. At least 850,000 homes were initially impacted, demonstrating fluctuating figures as restoration efforts progressed [2][3]. Over 500 Enedis personnel were deployed alongside firefighters and utility crews to address downed lines and damaged infrastructure [2][4]. Officials emphasized significant logistical hurdles in restoring power amid ongoing adverse weather [5].

red alerts issued for floods and avalanches

French meteorological agency Météo-France maintained red alerts for five departments: Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, Savoie, Aude, and Pyrénées-Orientales [5][6]. These alerts covered risks ranging from severe flooding to exceptional avalanche threats in mountainous regions [6][7]. The Alpine region of Savoie faced level-five avalanche warnings—the highest classification—described as an exceptional situation unseen in 17 years [2][7]. Authorities urged residents to stay informed and refrain from unnecessary travel as the storm system advanced eastward toward the Mediterranean [5][7].

rapid river rises prompt urgent evacuations

Water levels in the Gironde basin rose rapidly, doubling within 48 hours from 3.80 meters to over 7 meters in Langon [3]. This represents an approximate 84.211% increase in water height, exacerbating flood risks [3][8]. Similar dangerous conditions emerged in Cadillac, where levels exceeded six meters and threatened to surpass historical records from 2006 and 2018 [3]. Preemptive evacuations took place in La Réole and other vulnerable communities as officials anticipated further overflow along the Garonne River [3][8]. Flood monitors classified 29 river sections under orange alert, warning of major overflows within 24 hours [2].

infrastructure damage extends beyond mainland

Beyond casualties and blackouts, critical infrastructure sustained notable damage. In Sète harbor, a 550-ton crane slid off its rails and collapsed onto a cargo vessel due to westerly winds [5]. Port director Olivier Carmes explained the accident resulted from direct wind alignment with the crane’s orientation [5]. Maritime transport faced broad disruption, with ferry links between Corsica and mainland France canceled [3][5]. Flights were also scrapped, compounding regional isolation during peak storm activity [5]. Experts anticipate dismantling the damaged crane may require up to three weeks [5].

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Frankrijk storm nils