Violent storms swept through France over the weekend, killing at least 15 people, officials said.
Local authorities said three people died yesterday and another 12 today and warned the toll could rise. Some drowned while others were hit by falling trees and branches. Brittany and central France were among the worst-hit regions.
The storm had also cut off electricity to more than 1 million residents said ErDF, the distribution arm of French energy group EDF.
Weather forecasters said the storm, named Xynthia, had headed to France's north-east and would then hit Belgium and Luxembourg.
Gusts of wind reaching 100km (60 miles) per hour had already battered France's northern regions by 12.07pm, Meteo France said on its website.
It said the storms appeared less fierce than those that hit France in December 1999, in which 92 people were killed.
Reuters