PARIS, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Autumn storm Benjamin swept across large parts of France on Thursday, leaving several people injured and causing widespread disruptions, according to Meteo-France, the national meteorological and climate service.
Winds of 90 to 110 km per hour were recorded along the Atlantic and Channel coasts, with gusts reaching up to 130 km per hour in some areas. In the Mediterranean region, the tramontane wind reached speeds of 100 to 130 km per hour. High waves were also reported along the Atlantic coast.
As of 2 p.m. local time (1200 GMT), 11 departments remained on orange alert, down from 18 earlier in the day, Meteo-France said.
Several storm-related injuries were reported across the country. In the southern department of Herault, a man received an electric shock after touching a power line while working on scaffolding. Fortunately, his life is "not in danger," broadcaster LCI reported.
According to electricity network operator Enedis, more than 140,000 households were without power nationwide as of late Thursday morning. Train traffic was also disrupted on several major routes, with a number of high-speed TGV trains canceled or delayed. Suburban and regional train services in the Paris area also experienced interruptions.
The storm was expected to move eastward later in the day, reaching the Alpes-Maritimes and Corsica with further strong gusts. Meteo-France said showers would remain widespread on Friday, though winds were expected to gradually ease. ■
