Two killed and many injured as high winds and torrential rain sweep in
Two people are believed to have been killed in violent storms that have caused chaos for holidaymakers in the south west of France.
After several days of increasing temperatures – the mercury hit 40 degrees in many parts of the country – wild electrical storms swept in from the Bay of Biscay, causing high winds and torrential rain in many areas.
One man was killed in the coastal resort of Biscarosse after reportedly being hit by a falling tree, while another man died of a stress-related heart attack during a storm in the Loire Valley. Dozens more are reported to have been injured, particularly in western parts of the country.
In the heavily-forested Les Landes area, hundreds of campers had to be put into temporary shelters because of the danger of falling trees.
