2 die as huge storms hit parts of France

Two people drowned in flash floods in the past 24 hours in France as several parts of the country were hit with freak storms, including high winds, lighting and torrential rain. The storms hit an area from the English channel down to the south west of the country across a band of over 300 kilometers wide, forcing thousands of evacuations and major interventions by fire services and ambulances to cater for those stranded, weather services and civil authorities reported early on Thursday. Electrical storms also knocked out power in several rural districts, leaving thousands temporarily without electricity. Several roads were also knocked out in south-western France as rivers burst their banks, threatening villages and livestock. Flood waters swept away two old people in their 70s in separate incidents in the south and their bodies were recovered some distance away. Flights in and out of Paris were disrupted as rain caused delays and lightening storms threatened safety conditions for flights. But the storms were confined to the relatively narrow band from north to south and other parts of France were basking in sunshine with record temperatures, like the eastern city of Strasbourg, which the thermometer rose above 36 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. The volatile weather continued into the late evening on Wednesday and is expected to ease off on Friday.