by EuroNews
It’s published •update
At least three people have been killed and two remain missing after heavy rains have been pouring in southern France since Monday and storms have caused flooding.
An elderly couple was found dead in a car in the Cavalieres area, local media reported. Prosecutors said their cars were swept by the flood as they tried to leave the house.
Another woman was found dead in her car in the Vidauban commune.
The stormwater caused extensive damage to the area, disrupting at least two regional trains, flooding roads, and causing power and water outages.
French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X that the two remained missing after the flood.
“We’re there with the rescue team to get through the next few hours, to rebuild there,” he vowed.
By Tuesday evening, authorities in the seaside town of Le Labandou had begun a clean effort. Private local businesses were beginning to restore cleaning and access to the roads, authorities said.
The town must “rebuild everything that has been destroyed: roads, bridges, banks, wastewater treatment plants, coastlines” warned Mayor Gil Bernardi.
More than 200 firefighters have been mobilized to restore access to public infrastructure after flooding.
The VAR area was placed in an emergency thunderstorm warning by Tuesday morning and was later downgraded to yellow.
On Monday evening, heavy rains and hail hit southwestern France, disrupting the railway line connecting Bordeaux and Toulouse.
