By Euronews
Published on
At least three people have died and two remain missing after heavy rainfall and storms caused flooding in southern France since Monday.
An elderly couple were found dead in their car in the Cavalière area, reported local media. Their car was swept up in floodwaters as they tried to leave their homes, public prosecutors said.
Another woman was found dead in her vehicle in the commune of Vidauban.
The rainwater caused widespread damage to the region, disrupting at least two regional trains, flooding streets and causing power and water outages.
French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X that two people remained missing after the floods.
“We will be there, with the rescue forces, to get through the next few hours. There to rebuild,” he vowed.
By Tuesday evening, authorities in the seaside town of Le Lavandou had began clean-up efforts. Private, local companies had started to clean up and restore access to roads, authorities said.
The town would “have to rebuild everything that was destroyed: roads, bridges, banks, wastewater treatment plant, coastline,” warned its mayor, Gil Bernardi.
More than 200 firefighters have been mobilised to restore access to public infrastructure after the flooding.
The region of Var was placed on emergency warnings for thunderstorms by Tuesday morning, which was later downgraded to yellow.
Heavy rain and hailstorms struck southwestern France on Monday evening, disrupting the railway line connecting Bordeaux and Toulouse with several trains on the route cancelled.
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