France: Thousands of households without electricity

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Thunderstorm

Photo: A3446 Patrick Seeger / dpa

Heavy thunderstorms hit parts of France on Thursday evening.

Hail, heavy rain and gusts of wind caused great damage, especially in the south-west of the country.

Thousands of households in the Occitania region were without electricity, as several media reported.

The regional newspaper "La Dépêche du Midi" reported there on numerous blocked or impassable roads.

Several trees fell because of the strong wind.

At least two people were injured.

For large parts of France, the Météo-France weather service had declared the high warning level orange because of the heat thunderstorms.

kha / dpa