Violent storms strike south-west France
Around 2,000 homes are without power after violent hail storms struck southwestern France on Friday night, causing damage to crops and vineyards.
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Emergency services in Dordogne, a major agricultural and wine-producing region, received more than 300 calls for help for fallen trees, damaged roofs and flooded homes.
Residents posted photos on twitter showing hail stones ranging in size from cherries to golf balls.
The electricity company ERDF says around 120 of its repair staff are working to restore all power by Saturday evening.
The hailstorm caused roof damage to two retirement homes.
Météo-France said storm cells dumped between 30 and 50 millimetres of rain on the country’s south-west. It had issued storm warnings on Friday to 33 departments stretching from the south-west to the north-east coast.
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