In brief
Severe storms have wreaked havoc across southern France, resulting in at least three fatalities, including an elderly couple swept away by rapidly rising waters in Le Lavandou. The area has witnessed heavy rainfall, leaving trails of destruction, including power outages and transport disruptions.
Heavy downpours have triggered catastrophic flooding across the southern regions of France, claiming at least three lives. Reports say that an elderly couple lost theirs in the seaside town of Le Lavandou, with waters rising too quickly for them to escape their home. Meanwhile, a third victim perished after being trapped in a vehicle that submerged in a flooded ditch in Vidauban.The local prosecutor's office confirmed the couples' tragic fate, as they attempted to evacuate but were overtaken by the swift surge in water levels. Emergency services have documented over 500 calls in just a day, providing a glimpse of the chaos the floods have caused.Officials from Le Lavandou expressed their shock and devastation, citing a staggering 256 millimeters of rainfall within one hour that inundated the town's center. Mayor Gil Bernardi described the visual devastation, noting, "roads torn up" and "bridges broken apart" underscoring the violence of the storm.As of Tuesday, many parts of Le Lavandou still suffered from power outages, and the town’s accessibility remained hampered due to persistent flooding, leaving over 600 homes without electricity. Additionally, transport services like regional trains were halted, with disruptions extending to the Bordeaux-Toulouse line.The Var region faced continued emergency warnings for potential thunderstorms and flooding, although authorities later downgraded these alerts. The ongoing rainfall and hailstorms had caused significant interruptions, affecting local communities and prompting swift responses from hundreds of emergency personnel deployed from surrounding areas, including Cannes.
