Storms Eunice and Franklin cause major damage

On 16 February 2022, northwestern Europe was heavily affected by storm Eunice. Formed in Ireland, the hurricane ravaged the United Kingdom, Northern France, Benelux, Denmark and Germany.

The catastrophe caused no less than 16 deaths and deprived thousands of people of electricity. Hundreds of flights, trains and ferries have been cancelled throughout the disaster area.

According to the first estimates made by the PwC firm, the cyclone could lead to insured losses in the United Kingdom ranging between 200 million GBP (271.5 million USD) and 350 million GBP (475.2 million USD).

Two days after Eunice's passage, the French departments of Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Somme and Seine-Maritime were faced with a new low. Named Franklin, the storm ravaged the country with heavy rain and wind gusts reaching up to 100 to 120km/h.

The French government has decided to exceptionally mobilize the extreme emergency relief fund to assist those affected by the two weather events.