One person died as a storm packing winds of up to 140 kph struck the French coasts at Brittany and Normandy, France Info radio reported. ( dpa )
The 26-year-old victim died after being tossed into the sea late Sunday when his anchored sailboat sank in the high waves off the Breton port of Relecq-kerhuon. His body was found on Monday afternoon.
The storm also caused an 88-metre-long Dutch freighter to run aground off Les Sables-d'Orlonne. None of the ship's six crew members was hurt in the mishap.
The wind and heavy rains caused several rivers to overflow their banks, uprooted trees and forced fire-fighters to rescue dozens of people trapped in their cars.