A VIOLENT storm has left some 200,000 households without power across France, including 30,000 in the Paris region, the national electricity provider said.

Winds reaching more than 87mph in northern parts of the country, with photos of destroyed cars, collapsed scaffolding and uprooted trees appearing across social media.

Nine people have been injured as a result, the interior ministry said. Four of those are said to be in serious condition following accidents caused by the winds that reached speeds above 100mph in some areas.

First responders have made 3250 interventions related to the weather.

Some 2000 engineers have been deployed to reconnect the energy supplies in the 49 French departments which have been placed on high alert.

Winds of up to 72mph also battered Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport. Authorities said flights have been disrupted with slight delays stemming from safety precautions taken during boarding.

Meanwhile, in Germany, zoos have been closed, roads became flooded and a train was derailed amid similarly stormy conditions.

A train came off the tracks near Luenen in western Germany when it struck a tree which had fallen on the line. No injuries were reported.