At least three people in southern France have lost their lives due to intense flooding caused by relentless storms since Monday. The bodies of an elderly couple were discovered in Le Lavandou, a seaside town known for its summer tourism, while another victim perished in a car accident in Vidauban. Local authorities reported that the couple was swept away by swiftly rising water levels when they attempted to evacuate their home. An investigation into their deaths has been initiated.
Le Lavandou officials expressed disbelief at the natural disaster's severity, with around 256mm of rain pouring down in just an hour. The flooding resulted in widespread destruction, including damaged roads and power and water outages. Mayor Gil Bernardi described the situation as "truly violent and incomprehensible," citing roads torn apart and bridges collapsing.
Currently, Le Lavandou is grappling with continued power outages, and access to the town remains limited due to flooding. In Vidauban, a driver was trapped in their vehicle after it fell into a ditch on a flooded road; rescuers managed to save the driver but not the passenger.
Emergency services in the Var region have received over 500 calls since the onset of the storms, with hundreds of rescuers dispatched from nearby cities like Cannes. Although initial thunderstorm and flood alerts were issued, they have since been downgraded. Nonetheless, more than 600 homes are still without electricity, while train services in areas such as Bordeaux-Toulouse are experiencing cancellations and delays due to storm damage.
Le Lavandou officials expressed disbelief at the natural disaster's severity, with around 256mm of rain pouring down in just an hour. The flooding resulted in widespread destruction, including damaged roads and power and water outages. Mayor Gil Bernardi described the situation as "truly violent and incomprehensible," citing roads torn apart and bridges collapsing.
Currently, Le Lavandou is grappling with continued power outages, and access to the town remains limited due to flooding. In Vidauban, a driver was trapped in their vehicle after it fell into a ditch on a flooded road; rescuers managed to save the driver but not the passenger.
Emergency services in the Var region have received over 500 calls since the onset of the storms, with hundreds of rescuers dispatched from nearby cities like Cannes. Although initial thunderstorm and flood alerts were issued, they have since been downgraded. Nonetheless, more than 600 homes are still without electricity, while train services in areas such as Bordeaux-Toulouse are experiencing cancellations and delays due to storm damage.
