Storm aftermath leaves 2 dead in France; flood alerts to remain Saturday

PARIS (AP) — The aftermath of a deadly storm continued to disrupt parts of France on Friday, with flooding concerns persisting in the southwest even as wind alerts were lifted, according to weather service Météo-France.

Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said on TF1 that France had recorded two deaths linked to Storm Nils: one on Thursday in the Landes department and a second “in the last hours” in Tarn-et-Garonne.

She said the second victim was a man who was found in his garden.

Network operator Enedis said the storm left up to 900,000 customers without power at its peak; by Friday morning it had restored service to about half of those affected and mobilized 3,000 personnel, including 2,100 technicians.

Flood vigilance remained high. Météo-France maintained red flood alerts for Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne — to remain in place Saturday — due to a significant Garonne river flood episode.

Météo-France said the storm had “uncommon strength” and swept in from France’s western seaboard overnight Wednesday into Thursday and has now moved on tracking east into Europe.

A flooded road with a sign reading "risk of flooding" is seen in Confolens as severe flooding hits western France amid storm Nils, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Yohan Bonnet)

People walk in a flooded street of Confolens as severe flooding hits western France amid storm Nils, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Yohan Bonnet)

Flooded roads are seen as severe flooding hits western France amid storm Nils, in Confolens, western France, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Yohan Bonnet)

Water sits along a flooded street in Saint-Germain de Confolens in western France amid storm Nils, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Yohan Bonnet)

A car drives through a flooded street of Saint-Germain de Confolens as severe flooding hits western France amid storm Nils, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Yohan Bonnet)

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Zimbabwe caused the first major upset at the T20 Cricket World Cup with a surprise 23-run win against Australia on Friday.

Blessing Muzarabani grabbed 4-17 and Brad Evans picked up 3-23 as Australia was bowled out for just 146 in 19.3 overs.

Matt Renshaw, playing in his first T20 World Cup, scored a fighting 65 off 44 balls and Glenn Maxwell hit 31 off 32 deliveries, but Muzarabani and Evans did enough damage up front by claiming four wickets inside the power play to steer Zimbabwe to a second successive victory in Group B.

Opening batter Brian Bennett had earlier anchored Zimbabwe's 169-2 with an unbeaten 64 off 56 balls. Tadiwanashe Marumani (35) and Ryan Burl (35) also made handy contributions while captain Sikandar Raza’s late acceleration (25 off 13 deliveries) was crucial.

In the only other previous T20 World Cup game between the two nations, Zimbabwe defeated Australia by five wickets in 2007.

Four associate nations will be involved in the two other games on Friday. Canada won the toss and chose to bat against United Arab Emirates in a Group D game in Delhi.

The United States, which has already lost to India and Pakistan in Group A, will meet the Netherlands in Chennai.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Zimbabwe's Brian Bennett celebrates his fifty runs during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Zimbabwe's Ryan Burl plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Zimbabwe's Blessing Muzarabani celebrates the wicket of Australia's Tim David during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Zimbabwe's Ryan Burl celebrates the wicket of Australia's Glenn Maxwell during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's captain Travis Head, second right, toss the coin as Zimbabwe's captain Sikandar Raza, right, watch it before the starts of the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)