Heavy rainfall has resulted in extensive flooding and damage, prompting emergency responses across the area.
**Tragic Flooding Claims Lives in Southern France**
**Tragic Flooding Claims Lives in Southern France**
At least three fatalities reported after severe storms batter French Riviera region.
The torrential rains that have struck southern France since Monday have led to the unfortunate deaths of three individuals, with authorities reporting the bodies of an elderly couple discovered in the coastal town of Le Lavandou. In another grim incident, a person became trapped in a vehicle in Vidauban, resulting in a tragic outcome, as identified by local officials on Tuesday.
The storms wrought significant chaos, flooding roads and disrupting power and water supplies throughout the region. Transportation systems have also been affected, with at least two regional trains halting operations due to damage inflicted on the tracks. The couple in Le Lavandou attempted to flee their residence but were overwhelmed by the suddenly surging waters, which rose alarmingly fast according to the Toulon public prosecutor. An investigation is now underway regarding their untimely demise.
Local officials from the Cavalière district expressed collective shock at the sheer magnitude of the natural disaster. They reported that over 256mm of rainfall inundated the town center in under an hour. Situated roughly 30 kilometers (18 miles) east of St. Tropez, Le Lavandou is a popular holiday destination on the French Riviera. "What we faced was an unprecedented, chaotic situation," stated Mayor Gil Bernardi, highlighting the devastation of roads and bridges in the area.
As of Tuesday, Le Lavandou continued to grapple with electricity and water supply disruptions, with access limited due to ongoing flooding on the main road. Meanwhile, in Vidauban, emergency responders reported another fatality when a car drove onto a flooded roadway, resulting in a tragic accident in a ditch. A heroic passer-by could only rescue one of the two people trapped inside.
In the past day alone, emergency services in the Var region have received over 500 calls for assistance, prompting the deployment of several hundred responders from cities such as Cannes. Although Var was initially subject to heightened warnings for thunderstorms and flooding, these alerts were eventually downgraded to the least serious level. Nonetheless, over 600 homes presently remain without electrical service as recovery efforts continue in the aftermath of the storms. Heavy rains and hailstorms previously impacted southwest France on Monday night, further complicating the situation with disruptions on the Bordeaux-Toulouse railway line, leaving some train services canceled for subsequent days.
The storms wrought significant chaos, flooding roads and disrupting power and water supplies throughout the region. Transportation systems have also been affected, with at least two regional trains halting operations due to damage inflicted on the tracks. The couple in Le Lavandou attempted to flee their residence but were overwhelmed by the suddenly surging waters, which rose alarmingly fast according to the Toulon public prosecutor. An investigation is now underway regarding their untimely demise.
Local officials from the Cavalière district expressed collective shock at the sheer magnitude of the natural disaster. They reported that over 256mm of rainfall inundated the town center in under an hour. Situated roughly 30 kilometers (18 miles) east of St. Tropez, Le Lavandou is a popular holiday destination on the French Riviera. "What we faced was an unprecedented, chaotic situation," stated Mayor Gil Bernardi, highlighting the devastation of roads and bridges in the area.
As of Tuesday, Le Lavandou continued to grapple with electricity and water supply disruptions, with access limited due to ongoing flooding on the main road. Meanwhile, in Vidauban, emergency responders reported another fatality when a car drove onto a flooded roadway, resulting in a tragic accident in a ditch. A heroic passer-by could only rescue one of the two people trapped inside.
In the past day alone, emergency services in the Var region have received over 500 calls for assistance, prompting the deployment of several hundred responders from cities such as Cannes. Although Var was initially subject to heightened warnings for thunderstorms and flooding, these alerts were eventually downgraded to the least serious level. Nonetheless, over 600 homes presently remain without electrical service as recovery efforts continue in the aftermath of the storms. Heavy rains and hailstorms previously impacted southwest France on Monday night, further complicating the situation with disruptions on the Bordeaux-Toulouse railway line, leaving some train services canceled for subsequent days.
