At least three dead as ‘truly violent' rainstorms flood holiday hotspot French Riviera turning towns in ‘warzones'
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
THREE people have died and two people are missing after heavy rains and thunderstorms have battered southern France.
The rains have flooded entire streets, causing power and water outages and widespread destruction - as hundreds of rescuers have rushed to the region famous for seeing 300 days of sunshine.
6
Severe thunderstorms and flooding have caused deaths in the Var region of southern France
Credit: Reuters
6
Muddy floodwaters are seen running down a street in Vidauban - one of the worst-affected communes
Credit: Reuters
6
Around 200 firefighters and 35 gendarmes have been sent to the region
Credit: AFP
The rainfall hit Var - a region located in the southeast of France and part of the French Riviera - on Tuesday.
A couple in their eighties died after their car was swept away by floodwaters in the seaside town of Le Lavandou, France 24 reported.
The woman's body was found trapped inside the wreck, an public prosecutor in Toulon told AFP.
A third person drowned in their vehicle in the commune of Vidauban, according to the gendarmerie.
Read more on France
MAIS OUI Swap Paris for affordable and pretty city known as 'the beer capital of France'
A local official pulled the driver out of her vehicle but the passenger inside could not be saved.
Both French communes were among the worst-affected by the storms, with Gil Bernardi, mayor of Le Lavandou, describing "scenes of war" left behind.
Bernardi said: "It was a really violent, vicious, incomprehensible phenomenon."
He added: "The roads, the bridges, the paving stones, there is no more electricity, water, or wastewater treatment plant.
"The shock is significant because the phenomenon is truly violent and incomprehensible.
"As we speak, an entire part of the commune is inaccessible."
6
Foreign Sec David Lammy shouted 'f***ing French' at me during furious row over taxi fare - I was afraid, claims driver
There were reportedly power and water outages in the town of Cavaliere where 250mm fell in the space of one hour.
A parking lot also collapsed in the town, leading to dozens of people being rescued by authorities.
Around 200 firefighters and 35 gendarmes have reportedly been deployed in Var.
The total rainfall exceeded 10cm as of 10am local time, according to Meteo-France.
The weather agency placed the region under an orange alert for rain, flooding and thunderstorms.
A day earlier, hailstorms and heavy rain hit southwestern France, causing destruction.
The rainfall flooded homes, damaged railway tracks and forced hundreds aboard a high-speed TGV train to evacuate in the middle of the night.
The train's track had reportedly become dislodged after rainfall caused the ground to subside.
It comes as parts of southern and southeastern Spain were hit by major storms last week.
Almería, Murcia, Granada, parts of the Costa Blanca and the popular British hotspot of Benidorm were among the regions battered by the storms.
In a village in Murcia, 37 litres of rain per square metre reportedly fell in just 30 minutes, causing sudden flash floods.
6
A damaged car is seen on a mud-covered street in Le Lavandou
Credit: AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
5 hours ago
- Reuters
Rains intensify around Beijing, 4,400 evacuated
HONG KONG, July 28 (Reuters) - Heavy rain intensified around Beijing and nearby provinces in northern China on Monday, exacerbating the risks of disasters including landslides and flooding, authorities said, as they relocated more than 4,400 people. Colossal rain continued to pound the northwestern suburban area of Miyun in Beijing causing flash floods and landslides, and many villages were affected, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Images circulated on China's Wechat app showed areas of Miyun where cars and trucks were floating on a flooded road where water levels had risen so high that it had submerged part of a residential building. Northern China has seen record precipitation in recent years, exposing densely populated cities, including Beijing, to flood risks. Some scientists link the increased rainfall in China's usually arid north to global warming. The storms are part of the broader pattern of extreme weather across China due to the East Asian monsoon, which has caused disruptions in the world's second-largest economy. Xiwanzi Village in Shicheng Town, near Miyun Reservoir, was severely affected, CCTV said on Monday with an additional 100 villagers transferred to a primary school for shelter. It comes after the maximum flood peak flow into the Miyun reservoir reached a record high of 6550 cubic meters per second, Beijing authorities said on Sunday. In neighbouring Shanxi province, videos from state media showed roads inundated by strong gushing currents and submerged vegetation including crops and trees. In Beijing's Pinggu District, two high-risk road sections have been sealed, authorities said. Authorities are carrying out search and rescue work across cities including Datong, where a driver in a Ford car has lost contact while driving in the floods, the People's Daily reported. China's Water Resources Ministry has issued targeted flood warnings to 11 provinces and regions, including Beijing and neighbouring Hebei, for floods from small and midsize rivers and mountain torrents. Two were dead and two missing in Hebei province, CCTV said on Sunday morning. Overnight rain dumped a record 145 mm (5.7 inches) per hour on Fuping in the industrial city of Baoding. China's National Development and Reform Commission said on Monday that it was urgently arranging 50 million yuan ($6.98 million) to support Hebei. The funds would be used to repair damaged roads and bridges, water conservancy embankments, schools and hospitals in the disaster area. The NDRC said it was "promoting the restoration of normal life and production as soon as possible." Chinese authorities closely monitor extreme rainfall and severe flooding are, as they challenge the country's ageing flood defences, threaten to displace millions and wreak havoc on China's $2.8 trillion agricultural sector. ($1 = 7.1675 Chinese yuan renminbi)
Reuters
13 hours ago
- Reuters
Wildfire in Sardinia forces dozens to flee beach by boat
MILAN, July 27 (Reuters) - Dozens of beachgoers in Sardinia were forced to flee by boat on Sunday when a huge wildfire broke out nearby, blocking other escape routes, firefighters on the Italian island said. Black smoke could be seen rising from the beach in Villasimius in the south of the island. Strong winds were hindering rescue efforts, firefighters said in a statement, adding that several cars had been burned. Italy has been sweltering under summer heat-waves, with wildfires particularly affecting arid southern regions.
Reuters
16 hours ago
- Reuters
Tour de France final stage neutralised after slippery road conditions
PARIS, July 27 (Reuters) - The final stage of the Tour de France saw its competitive element largely neutralised on Sunday after organisers decided to freeze the times with about 50 kilometres left due to hazardous road conditions. Following a pre-stage check, officials identified several sections of the course as dangerously slippery. The stage goes up the cobbled roads of the Butte Montmartre three times. "After a reconnaissance carried out before the stage, and after noting that certain sections had slippery road conditions, it was decided, in agreement with the president of the commissaires' panel, that the times would be frozen at kilometre 82, that is, on the 4th crossing of the finish line," organisers said in a statement. "A stage classification will be established, but it will not affect the general classification." The overall standings will therefore remain unchanged, preserving the yellow jersey leader's position. Slovenian Tadej Pogacar will, however, still need to cross the finish line to be declared winner of the race.
