At least three dead as ‘truly violent' rainstorms flood holiday hotspot French Riviera turning towns in ‘warzones'
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
6
6
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.
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
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
6
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
Thunderstorm warnings could be issued this week as ‘intense rainfall' looms
Thunderstorm alerts could be issued this week, the Met Office warned as it forecast 'intense rainfall' across parts of the UK. The deluge is expected to hit on Wednesday evening, after a drier and widely sunny Tuesday, during which time some western areas could see 20-40mm of rain over just a few hours. Temperatures are also forecast to hike later in the week, with south-east and central England potentially reaching 27C on Wednesday and Thursday and then 29C on Friday. A plume of warm air from Iberia and France is set to kick in, bringing the chance of thunderstorms. Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, Mike Silverstone, said: 'After largely benign weather early in the week, some intense, thundery showers will move in on Wednesday evening. 'These thunderstorms are being triggered by some warm, humid air that is moving into the UK from the south. 'The intense rainfall could see 20-40mm accumulating over just a few hours, which could cause some disruption. 'While there are no severe weather warnings issued at the moment, it is possible thunderstorm warnings may be issued this week.' The thunderstorms and showers are forecast to move north and east through Thursday, with a small reprieve on Friday before another band moves in from the southwest bringing more rain lasting into the early hours of Saturday. Mr Silverstone said: 'As temperatures rise this week, it is possible heatwave thresholds could be reached in some parts of the UK, particularly the northwest Midlands, north-west England and northeast Wales, however it is very dependent on cloud cover later this week, so it is not a certainty. 'This warm spell will feel different to the fine weather we experienced in May as the humidity will be much higher, making it feel more uncomfortable. 'Additionally, while in May the nights were still fairly cool, overnight temperatures this week are forecast to remain fairly warm, which can disrupt people's sleep.'
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Daily Mail
British climber is killed after 'falling from his rope' on glacier during descent from 12,500ft mountain in French Alps
A British climber has died after falling from a glacier during a descent from a 12,500ft mountain in the French Alps. The mountaineer, who has not been named, was reportedly coming down the Grands Couloirs glacier when he fell at around 11am on Sunday. The man, in his sixties, reportedly 'fell from his rope' during the descent, above the town of Pralognan-la-Vanoise, in Savoie. Initial reports said that the victim had been joined by a climbing companion, also English, on their hike. The two had not been attached by climbing ropes before the fall, France3 reports. Emergency services were called, battling against the piercing wind to reach the scene within minutes. The victim was already dead when they arrived, local media reports. Mountain rescue services are investigating to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident. The pair had taken a 'normal route' in the Vanoise massif to come down the mountain on Sunday, according to the prosecutor's office. A helicopter and teams of firefighters were dispatched to the scene. Weather conditions on the mountain were 'very difficult' due to strong winds, Le Dauphine reports. In April, a 27-year-old British man was killed in an avalanche in the Savoie prefecture. The victim was found buried under the snow at the entrance to a ski resort. He was taken to Grenoble Hospital and later pronounced dead. As many as four landslides were reported in Les Menuires and Val Thorens in quick succession, Ludovic Trautmann, director of the Savoie prefecture, said in a statement. In February, a British skier was found dead at the bottom of a cliff in the French Alps after reportedly falling from a height while returning from an après ski party. The 23-year-old was found in the popular resort above the town of Morzine, France. It is believed that he had been skiing with friends before attending a party in Avoriaz, and then became lost when trying to ski down the mountain alone. Friends reported his disappearance when he did not return home, prompting a desperate search by rescue teams. Last year, another British skier died in an accident after hitting a tree at the Avoriaz resort. French media reports at the time suggested that the man left the Covagnes piste after swerving to avoid hitting a group of skiers blocking the way. But a fellow British skier who witnessed the accident claimed the icy conditions on the route had caused the victim to lose control even before the accident occurred. The 68-year-old was found unresponsive by rescuers on March 26, and despite their best efforts could not be resuscitated.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
I fell 9,000ft & LIVED after my paraglider wing collapsed during a flight… but I can't wait to get back in the sky
A GRANDAD has told how his paraglider's wing collapsed 9,000ft above the French Alps. Retired counter-terrorism cop Steve Barnett, 57, flew into a storm cloud, saturating his glider. 5 5 5 The wing caved under the weight of water as he tried an emergency landing — sending him falling 30ft through trees. Steve broke his pelvis when he hit the ground at 40mph. He called fellow paraglider Matt Roach, 47, for help. The pal, in the air at the time, tracked him down and alerted a rescue helicopter. Steve was airlifted from Passy, in south eastern France, to a hospital near the Italian border. He was allowed to head home to Seaford, East Sussex, just two days later. Steve recalled: 'There was a big cloud and I started hearing a pitter patter on the wing. "It came down heavier. 'Then all I could hear was this snapping, crackling and rippling. "I bounced on the ground and rolled. Shock vid shows half-frozen paraglider who was sucked 5 MILES into sky by vortex & left shivering in -40C conditions 'It was like someone had kicked me really hard.' Unfazed, he added: 'I can't wait to get back into the sky.' 5 5
