Photos: damage left by violent storms in central-east france

STREETS AND HOMES WERE LEFT FLOODED AND A CARE HOME ROOF WAS RIPPED OFF BY STRONG WINDS A series of intense storms battered central and eastern France this weekend, leaving several people

hospitalised and causing widespread damage across several departments.  In the Haute-Marne up to ten times more rain fell per hour than in normal periods of rainfall. In one hour, nearly 50

mm of rainfall was recorded in communes including Bologne, Marault, Annéville-la-Prairie and Meures, rising to 100 mm over six hours early Sunday (July 21) morning. It left five people from

the department hospitalised for hypothermia – those who were unable to find shelter inside before the storms began – and led to more than 80 callouts for firefighters.  Across the 15

departments on heightened weather alerts over the weekend, more than 600 callouts were made, announced Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. FLOODS AND HAILSTONES Flooding hit some parts of

Haute-Marne, and elsewhere fierce winds kicked up debris. > SEVERE #FLOODING IN #France 'S HAUTE-MARNE INJURES FIVE >  > Severe thunderstorms have wreaked havoc in 

France's Haute-Marne > department since late Saturday, resulting in serious flooding and > injuring at least five people. The communes of Bologne, Marault, > 

Anneville-la-Prairie, and… pic.twitter.com/pbfsHjqh6L > — Live Updates (@LiveupdatesUS) July 22, 2024 > 🌊🌊🌊 Graves inondations dues à des orages torrentiels dans > le village de 

Meures en Haute-Marne, France 🇫🇷 (20.07.2024) > pic.twitter.com/YUJfeT62xc > — La Piaffe 🐦🚫 (@DiedSuddenlyFR) July 21, 2024 > ⛈️La #HauteMarne a été touchée par de violents #orages 

hier > soir, provoquant par endroit des #inondations et des dégâts. >  > 📸Illustration dans le secteur de Bologne - Conseil Départemental > de Haute-Marne 

pic.twitter.com/MWwUPDerTf > — Guillaume Séchet (@Meteovilles) July 21, 2024 > Le Village de Meures en Haute-Marne fortement touché pas les > intempéries hier soir #inondations 

#orages #hautemarne #solidarité > pic.twitter.com/QQ2R0mWz9K > — Active Radio (@ActiveRadio_52) July 21, 2024 In the commune of Bologne, Haute-Marne, floods up to a metre high were

recorded on some streets, the department’s prefecture announced. Other departments, including the Yonne, were also hit by flooding. > ⚡️ Les #orages de la soirée occasionnent des pluies 

diluviennes > dans l’#Yonne. Des ruissellements et inondations sont reportés à > Villy et Montigny-la-Resle. Il est tombé près de 50 mm par > endroits. Photos C. Poitout & L. 

Petas. pic.twitter.com/XllRMuDorK > — Météo89 (@meteo_89) July 20, 2024 In addition to rainfall and flooding, violent hail storms hit a number of areas, including the city of

Clermont-Ferrand. Surprisingly, Corsica was also hit by hailstorms, disturbing the summer weather that the island had been experiencing. > ⚡ L'orage qui a touché Bastia ce dimanche 

soir s'est accompagné > de chutes de grêle, ici à Furiani où des grêlons de 2 à 3 cm > ont été observés. Mais jin, en Corse c'est toujours dans la bonne > humeur et la 

déconnade.😉🤣pic.twitter.com/FPZtPlqFta > pic.twitter.com/9pNFLeUAFV > — LMS Radio, La Musique Star 🎗 (@LAMUSIQUESTAR) July 21, 2024 CARE HOME ROOF BLOWN OFF  In the Loire department,

winds were so fierce that the roof of an Ehpad (elderly care home) was ripped off during the storms.  The roof, located in the Rozier-en-Donzy commune, was blew off on Saturday (July 20)

evening, with parts swept into the garden, and rain flooding the building.  None of the residents were injured, but 23 people living in the home have needed to be temporarily rehoused whilst

the roof is repaired.  The roof was new, having been installed four years ago - after the previous one was destroyed in a hail storm.  You can see a video of the damage here, via a report

from public service broadcaster France Info.  No storms are forecast for this week.  Read more: Weather in France July 22 – July 26: Forecast by area this week