Emergency

Warning after Briton rescued from high tide in Brittany

The 45-year-old man had to be airlifted to hospital, prompting authorities to issue a warning

Several emergency hospital services temporarily closed across France

A shortage of staff has caused closures or service restrictions in hospitals including centres in Dordogne, Provence, and Brittany

Woman dies, four injured in terrace collapse at French wedding party

Guests were having an early evening aperitif when the tragedy struck at the village hall. A investigation for manslaughter has been opened

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UK family faces £20,000 plus bill after son taken ill on Paris trip

Travel insurer is refusing to pay out for the costs of bringing the teenager home

Briton’s parachute fails in 140m French base jump - and he survives

A tree broke his fall and he was lucky enough to drop just as some French fishermen were nearby and could help

114 emergency number helps if you cannot communicate easily in France

The service is available via app, text, and online - but few people know about it

Millions of phones to get tsunami alert in south of France

The exercise will let authorities see if the emergency text message system works

More snakes kept as pets in France - some are escaping

Following two recent examples in Toulouse, we ask a fireman what to do in the rare occurence you find one

Brittany couple saved from fire by parrot shrieking ‘It's hot!’

The ‘hero’ parrot was the first to notice something was wrong in the dead of night

Plumbers, locksmiths: how to avoid scams with urgent repairs in France

Tradespeople are highly regulated - even in emergency situations

France holds heatwave crisis meeting as hotter temperatures forecast

A ‘heat dome’ is expected to add to the situation next week - we explain

MAP: See what temperatures to expect today and tomorrow in France

Temperatures in the south and the Rhône valley in particular will be extremely high

UK couple living in remote French barn guided through birth on call

First-aid workers had to give instructions to the father in English while a helicopter was on its way as he is reported to not speak any French

Growing strain on hospital emergency units in France, some closures

Tourist areas are under particular pressure. There are also increased strikes among emergency call responders

France sends first emergency weather alerts: how do warnings work?

The system was used for the first time in relation to the weather when violent storms lashed parts of France last week

Non-emergency patients saturating French hospital ‘urgences’

However creating a system to effectively filter people out without risk is complicated

Heatwave shows a ‘rickety’ French emergency health service in crisis

Columnist Nabila Ramdani shares her view on the heatwave heroes and hospitals buckling under pressure

‘Dangerous conditions’ in 127 hospitals and emergency units in France

The heat, rising Covid cases and staff shortages are causing some personnel to fear that hospitals are ‘heading for catastrophe’

Patients’ group outlines solutions to A&E crisis at French hospitals

Reinstating out-of-hours GPs is key, it claims, saying the government must act now

One in five French A&E units face cuts or closure due to lack of staff

One issue is the shortage of private-practice doctors meaning people turn to the 'Urgences' for non-A&E work

One death, 15 people injured as violent storms hit France

Wind at more than 100km/h, 60mm of rain, and hailstones like golf balls hit vast swathes of the country

Two dead after Storms Eunice and Franklin hit France

A couple in their 70s drowned in Manche after becoming stuck in floods, as thousands were still without power this morning and yellow alerts for high winds remain

Can I bypass France’s ban on travel from UK for a family emergency?

France is currently not allowing people in the UK to enter unless they have an “essential reason”, of which a family emergency is not one. However, there could be an exception to this. We explain

One dead, three missing as building falls in explosion in south France

Five other people were rescued, including a mother and baby. Emergency services reported a strong smell of gas in the area

Why has France lost 80,000 hospital beds in 20 years?

Figures on the status of beds have revealed rising tensions among hospitals across the country although some drops are due to a change in working practices

British woman rescued from flames after explosion in French house

Residents of the Aude village of Bellegarde-du-Razès were disturbed by the blast on Friday night, and rushed to help the woman, who suffered burns to her body

21 drivers fined €135 for filming road accident scene in east France

Gendarmerie in Marne called the behaviour ‘risky and inappropriate’

Role reversal as Saint-Bernard dog needs rescue after fall in Pyrénées

The 75kg dog, whose breed is well known for its mountain rescue skills, needed evacuating on a stretcher after it fell 10m from a steep path

Mini-tornado rips off roof as more extreme weather hits France

A 17-year-old is still missing after falling in a river in Oise, declarations of an official ‘catastrophe naturelle’ imminent - and more storms forecast across the centre-east

Three hurt as buildings collapse with nine inside in Bordeaux

Firefighters describe low injury toll as 'almost miraculous' after properties fell down

How to save medical info for French emergency services to use on phone

Making key health information easily available can save crucial time and help keep your family informed

Making 112 the only emergency number in France would be ‘an error’

The head of urgent ambulance service, the SAMU, says having separate numbers for emergency services provides a faster, more targeted response after MPs debate trialling a single number

9% of population live more than 30 minutes from A&E in France

Six million people - three-quarters of those in country areas - live more than the 'crucial half an hour' from a French A&E department

Five killed in French Alps mountain rescue helicopter crash

Five of the six people on board were killed in the crash, but the cause of the incident is not yet known

Search for British hiker missing in Pyrenees

The experienced hiker set out on a solo trip last Sunday and was due to return on Wednesday but has not been seen

Storm Alex: More dead and missing in France as impact grows

At least 20 people are missing, at least three have died, and villages in southeast France are still without water or electricity, as the €1billion-plus devastation wreaked by Storm Alex continues to emerge.

Southeast France on red alert as Storm Alex wreaks havoc

Southeast France is on red alert today (Friday October 2) as Storm Alex continues to wreak havoc, with rain and high winds of up to 180 kph already causing loss of power for 80,000 homes in Brittany.

Videos: One missing as flash floods batter south of France

One person is missing and cars and vehicles have been dragged away after flash flooding and torrential rain hit the south of France last night (Saturday September 19).

Ruling MPs want one emergency phone number for all services

Having a single emergency phone number for France is part of a package of ideas for improving emergency services.

French first aid app is a real life-saver

A free mobile phone app that finds nearby first-aiders and defibrillators is helping to save the lives of people having heart attacks

Six dead as storm devastation continues in France

Six people have now died and one person is missing after severe flooding in southeast France, as the region suffered intense storms twice in just over a week.

Two missing as severe floods hit southeast France

[ UPDATE Sunday 24, 12h41: The bodies of the two people who were missing have now been found. Interior minister Christophe Castaner is expected to visit the Var and Alpes-Maritimes today.]

Woman gives birth on dancefloor of French nightclub

A 19-year-old woman has given birth on a nightclub dance floor in Toulouse, with staff helping to deliver a healthy little boy before emergency services arrived.

France's demoralised hospital workers take to streets

Striking staff march in Paris in protest over low pay and relentless pressure in emergency departments

Thousands evacuated and homes damaged in French quake

More than 8,500 people have been evacuated and hundreds of buildings dangerously weakened in southeast France, as the extent of the damage from yesterday’s 5.4 magnitude earthquake emerges.

Severe storms and flooding hit south of France

Nine departments in the south of France remain on orange alert for rainstorms and floods, after severe flooding has already caused campsites to be evacuated, and posed serious danger to livestock.

‘Angry’ French firefighters protest in Paris

Firefighters from across France have marched on Paris to demand better working conditions, re-evaluation of their pay, continued pension plans, and a new emergency number.

SMS phone location system to launch in France

An enhanced mobile phone location system that will automatically transmit a caller’s location to emergency services is to launch in France before the end of the year.

French city on alert after chemical plant blast

Schools closed and residents warned to stay indoors after explosion at factory that produces toxic chemicals

French fire brigade completes epic ‘Tetris’ challenge

A French fire station has become the latest to take part in the “Tetris challenge” spreading across social media - using the entire contents of a fire engine, plus crew.

Missing French Alps climber found...43 years later

The remains of a young climber who went missing in the French Alps more than 40 years ago appear to have been found, with his family never giving up hope that he would be discovered one day.

French minister lists 12 emergency hospital measures

The French health minister has announced a series of measures to address the strike crisis spreading across emergency hospitals in France, but one group has said they are “not up to the task”.

Nine French departments in flames due to forest fires

Several hundreds of hectares across nine departments in France have been destroyed by forest fires this week, causing evacuations in the Pyrénées-Orientales and the Ardèche.

French emergency hospital staff strike intensifies

Emergency hospital staff in France are continuing to strike, with almost half of services affected five months in to the movement.

Firefighters: only call us if your life is in danger

Nearly all fire stations charge for non-emergency call-outs to dissuade people from ringing them for jobs which could be done by other professionals.

France debates new emergency number to help hospitals

France may introduce a new emergency phone number in a bid to ease congestion in hospitals and help ensure people receive faster, more appropriate care for their condition, the government has said.

Wildfire destroys 900 hectares in south of France

More than 900 hectares of vegetation have been destroyed near Carcassonne (Aude, Occitanie) this week after one of the summer’s biggest forest fires took more than 500 firefighters to manage.

French residents rally to support tired firefighters

Residents in the Gard department (Occitanie) have been bringing food, water and coffee to local firefighters who have been battling wildfires in the area for a week.

‘Screams for help’ in French town actually a cockerel

A French resident in Indre-et-Loire called the gendarmerie at dawn this week after hearing “screams for help”...but the noise was in fact the crowing of a nearby cockerel.

Emergency services exempt from French motorway tolls

Firefighters and police will finally no longer be charged to drive on motorways in France, almost two years after MPs voted to exempt them from payments, in October 2017.

Severe forest fire alerts across south of France

The south of France is on alert for forest fires today (July 19), with many local forest areas and roads forbidden to access, as the government releases advice on how to prevent wildfires.

Woman ‘hiking’ in flip-flops rescued near French peak

A woman who wore flip-flops on a hike to the summit of a Savoie mountain required rescue by helicopter this week, prompting emergency services to warn hikers about using proper equipment.

Be prepared for fire service

Here is a piece of advice which I hope will help others.

'We need more staff': unions slam €70m A&E worker fund

Additional government money to pay bonuses and overtime to stretched emergency department workers

'France's sick emergency services need urgent reform'

Firefighters to stage symbolic strike from Wednesday in protest at worsening working conditions, saying they "no longer have the means to carry out our missions"

Trapped French expat dog finally freed by volunteers

A dog belonging to a British man in Côte-d’Or has been rescued by a team of volunteers after being trapped in a tunnel for six days, despite the official rescue having been called off.

Second earthquake in 3 weeks hits same area of France

There are usually no more than 15 earthquakes strong enough to trigger seismic alerts in France in a year. This was the 25th, but experts explain there is no cause for concern

Do you know which emergency number to dial ?

Boy, 5, saves mother’s life as he knew emergency number to dial

Can you call pompiers from UK?

I know the key French emergency telephone numbers, eg. 18 for the pompiers. What if I had to call them from the UK (for an elderly relative living there) – could I do it? G.G.

Two confirmed dead in French Alps Courchevel blaze

Two people have been confirmed dead and four injured after a fire in the ski resort of Courchevel, Savoie, last night (Saturday January 19 to Sunday January 20).

Breton rock goat in lucky Christmas escape

A goat on the Breton island of Île d'Ouessant (Ushant) had a lucky escape this Christmas after requiring rescue from a rock by the emergency coastguard.

European victim helpline number 116 006 launches today

A new European-wide helpline number designed to offer victims direct access to professional support associations following crimes such as assault and rape has launched today (Tuesday December 4).

Marseille building collapse search halted

Six bodied have been recovered, but the search for victims has been suspended for safety reasons, with two more buildings in danger of collapse

Recruitment drive for volunteer pompiers

The government hopes to boost recruitment of volunteer pompiers with measures including better pensions and social protection and a message that it can suit many kinds of people, not just “supermen”.

What happened? Météo France explains record flooding

Météo France has explained why intense flooding has affected the south of France - becoming the worst recorded since 1891 - despite autumn rain storms being a common phenomenon in the region.