a hundred-year-old redwood tree struck by lightning falls on a restaurant

Strong storms caused damage in Deux-Sèvres (79) this Saturday, June 29. Lightning started several fires and even blew up a redwood tree. No casualties were reported, but a restaurant was hit. The staff is technically unemployed.

Thirty-five firefighters were mobilized on fifteen interventions in Deux-Sèvres, at the height of the bad weather this Saturday morning, June 29, 2024. Indeed, several storms hit the department, causing three fires following lightning strikes, but also the explosion of an old sequoia. In the Parthenay sector, a shed of approximately 30 m² caught fire, as did an electricity meter and a frame.

In Augé, around nine o’clock, lightning struck a century-old sequoia in a restaurant owner’s yard. This partly caused the explosion of the tree, which, according to our information, could have been the highest point in this village. The images are impressive.

The debris from the sequoia hit the roof of the outbuilding of the Ardoise hotel-restaurant. As the building is damaged, the staff, which includes three people, is technically unemployed for an indefinite period. The owner couple acquired this restaurant four years ago, shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nevertheless, the owner David Cassereau, who gave concerts at the foot of the redwood, assures that “it’s just hardware.” His white van, parked under the tree, was also hit. This is his personal vehicle for his vacation. So he may not be able to go on vacation, he confided to our journalist on site.

As soon as the bad weather ended, a surge of solidarity was organized to help him. Several friends came to help him clear the place of debris and bring a basket to repair everything as quickly as possible. The objective: to reopen the establishment quickly.

The entire Poitou-Charentes region is now on yellow alert for thunderstorms according to Météo France.