1 dies after unusual snowstorm in France

An unusual snowstorm dumped up to 30 centimetres of snow on parts of the central east and southeast France on Thursday, caused one death and left thousands of households without power, local media reported on Friday.

A 63-year-old motorist died when he tried to move a fallen tree in a snow-covered road in Roche. He was struck by another tree that fell due to heavy snowfall, state-run France Info radio network reported. A 27-year-old driver was also wounded in the incident.

Overnight snowfall and icy temperatures in Drome, Ardeche, Isere and Rhone have disrupted electricity supply. By early Friday, 330,000 homes in the affected areas were still without electricity.

Several areas have cancelled school buses. Train traffic was also affected. In Isere, railway operator SNCF announced that train traffic was interrupted on three lines from Grenoble, southeastern France, due to trees falling on snow-covered tracks.

Lyon airport also expected "some disruptions" and called on passengers to check their flights scheduled on Friday.