Storm Austen causes widespread damage in Brittany and Normandy

Storm Austen brought violent wind gusts and heavy rainfall to the Brittany and Normandy regions of France on October 23 and 24. The storm resulted in significant infrastructure damage, including torn roofs, blocked roads, and power outages affecting more than 19,000 households, according to Enedis.

Religious buildings were among the structures impacted. In Manche, the Saint-Julien church in Urville-Bocage suffered roof damage that caused approximately 80 square meters of tiles to fall onto a cemetery. In Finistère, the Notre-Dame de Bodilis church sustained damage to its bell tower spire and a broken stained-glass window, requiring emergency stabilization.

In the Douarnenez area, local authorities and community services mobilized to manage dozens of intervention requests. Measures were taken to secure public spaces, including temporary closures of the Xavier Trellu stadium and the Chemin du Treiz to ensure resident safety.