A storm as sudden as violent. Corsica was hit Thursday, August 18 in the morning by impressive storms, killing at least five people and at least 13 injured, including two in serious condition. A 46-year-old man died after a tree fell on his bungalow in Calvi (Haute-Corse), a 13-year-old girl lost her life in similar circumstances at a campsite in Sagone (Corse-du-Sud) . A 72-year-old woman died on the Liamone beach in Coggia (Corse-du-Sud), after the roof of a straw hut fell on her vehicle. UA fisherman in Girolata (Corse-du-Sud) and a kayaker in Erbalunga (Haute-Corse) also perished, according to the maritime prefecture.
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Gusts at 224 km / h in Marignana (Corsica-from South)at 197 km/h in Calvi (Haute-Corse), at 205 km/h in Ile Rousse (Haute-Corse) or even at 131 km/h in Ajaccio (South Corsica) were measured by Météo France.
Impressive storm in Corsica #storm #Corsica #lilerousse pic.twitter.com/5zbp3xdqIP
— dessenis (@olivierdessenis) August 18, 2022
The violent storm that hit Corsica this morning left its mark here in #Bastia with many tree branches torn by the violence of the gusts of wind. On the avenue du Maréchal Sébastiani or place Saint Nicolas. #thunderstorms #Corsica @franceinfo @franceinfoplus pic.twitter.com/yZ7tw7LP6s
— Antoine Comte (@AntoineCOMTE) August 18, 2022
The bad weather also caused disruptions at the island’s airports. At Bastia Poretta airport (Haute-Corse), gusts at 123 km / hour were recorded by Météo France. The gusts were also powerful at Ajaccio airport, where a plane was damaged on the tarmac by a maintenance ladder which flew off and hit the machine, reports France 3 Corse.
View from the plane this morning on the tarmac of Ajaccio… pic.twitter.com/YakGtO2L2H
— Christophe Arnoul (@c_arnoul) August 18, 2022
Campo Dell’oro Airport@VilledAjaccio pic.twitter.com/za3JMjmBDf
— Stefanu Pinelli (@StefanuPinelli) August 18, 2022
On the coasts, debris from boats washed up on the beaches. “Several rescues at sea of boaters” were also in progress at the end of the morning, in particular in Capo di Feno, on the outskirts of Ajaccio, according to the commander of the Fire and Rescue Service (SDIS) of Corse-du-Sud, Jean-Jacques Peraldi.
In total, “115 operations” rescue at sea took place “at midday”announced on franceinfo the spokesperson for the maritime prefect of the Mediterranean, Commander Pierre-Louis Josselin. “The operations are still in progress”, he adds. Many small boats were “surprised” by a “violent and sudden phenomenon”.
While we helped many passers-by pick up debris on Liamone beach in #Corsica, debris from the stranded boat is now being collected on the beach. Others sail offshore.#Live #Sagone #Corsica @RTBFinfo @RTBF @RevelateursFTV pic.twitter.com/0rjiBF0daE
— Benjamin Roux (@Benjam1Roux) August 18, 2022
Violent thunderstorms have been sweeping Corsica since this morning.
Exceptional gusts of more than 200 km / h were recorded in southern Corsica.
3 people died▶JT1213 @France3tv pic.twitter.com/G4gsGVQNqm
– Info France 3 (@infofrance3) August 18, 2022
The storms left the island in the direction of Italy at the end of the morning, specified Météo France, which lifted the orange vigilance. The wind has become weak again over a large majority of Corsica, added the meteorological institute. But about 45,000 homes remain without electricity on the island, according to EDF-Corsica.