Storm Xynthia spurs French helicopters into action
French Air Force and Navy helicopters have gone into action rescuing people affected by Storm Xynthia over the weekend.
The storm struck on Saturday night into Sunday. With the damage inflicted, the French armed forces went into action in conjunction with other state agencies to cope with the disaster.
From the early hours of the disaster and throughout the Sunday, 28 February, three helicopters - two Super Pumas and a Caracal from Helicopter Squadron 1 / 67 "Pyrénées" based at Cazaux, have been assisting rescue efforts near La Rochelle. More than 130 people were rescued, including nearly 80 by helicopter. Several generators have also been transported by air. The French Navy bought in its Public Service Dauphin from Rochelle. The crew of that aircraft had just completed the rescue of two jet skiers off Bayonne, and flew straight to the flooded areas rescuing 16 people including a pregnant woman.
The Xynthia storm has claimed dozens of victims, mainly in the departments of Vendée and Charente-Maritime. On Monday, tens of thousands of homes were still without power.
Source: French Armed Forces
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