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| Heavy flooding in French Riviera leaves more than a dozen people dead | Heavy flooding in French Riviera leaves more than a dozen people dead |
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| Violent storms and severe flooding along the French Riviera have left 13 people dead, according to emergency services, including three people who drowned in a retirement home after a river broke its banks. | Violent storms and severe flooding along the French Riviera have left 13 people dead, according to emergency services, including three people who drowned in a retirement home after a river broke its banks. |
| Heavy flooding along the Cote d’Azur, in France’s south-east, on Saturday saw the river Brague burst its banks close to the city of Antibes, flooding a home for the elderly. President François Hollande said in a statement that people were found dead in the towns of Cannes, Biot, Golfe-Juan and Mandelieu-la-Napoule in the south-east. | |
| Five people are believed to have died attempting to park their cars under shelter, according to local authorities. Three more people drowned when their car became stuck inside a tunnel. | Five people are believed to have died attempting to park their cars under shelter, according to local authorities. Three more people drowned when their car became stuck inside a tunnel. |
| Related: Obama declares state of emergency in South Carolina over floods | Related: Obama declares state of emergency in South Carolina over floods |
| A woman in her 60s also died on the street in the resort city of Cannes when huge storms hit the region on Saturday. Water and debris coursed down submerged roads in the famous festival town and in the neighbouring city of Nice. Another victim was found dead at a campsite in Antibes, according to local officials. | |
| More than 17cm (6.7in) of rain fell on the Cannes region in two hours, local radio France Bleu-Azur reported. | More than 17cm (6.7in) of rain fell on the Cannes region in two hours, local radio France Bleu-Azur reported. |
| Guardian journalist Stuart Dredge, attending the MIPJunior television conference in Cannes, said the venue for the event had been flooded. He said he had been knee-deep in water for his walk home on Saturday night after watching the England-Australia Rugby World Cup match. | |
| “By half-time, the street outside was running with water, and the main Rue d’Antibes road in Cannes was between ankle and knee-high depth at its lower points,” he said. | |
| “The crossroads were the most dangerous parts: the water really was pouring down from the higher ground with strong currents – and bear in mind a fair few people walking home had been drinking, so their balance would have been a bit impaired already!” | |
| Seriously though, this is the state of Cannes' main thoroughfare right now pic.twitter.com/xk2V429l9X | Seriously though, this is the state of Cannes' main thoroughfare right now pic.twitter.com/xk2V429l9X |
| Dredge said he did not see anyone fall into the water, although some moped drivers needed assistance. “This morning, there are a few cars that have clearly been swept along and deposited leaning against railings. When I got home the power was out in my building, but it came back on again shortly before midnight.” | |
| “I think Cannes probably got off lightly, comparably: it was a hairy walk home but I didn’t feel in true danger,” he added. | |
| “Some cars were carried off into the sea,” said Cannes mayor Davis Lisnard, describing water levels reaching halfway up car doors and trees left uprooted on the city’s main drag. | “Some cars were carried off into the sea,” said Cannes mayor Davis Lisnard, describing water levels reaching halfway up car doors and trees left uprooted on the city’s main drag. |
| “We have rescued a lot of people, and we must now be vigilant against looting,” he added, announcing that an emergency plan was now in effect to mobilise police, emergency responders and municipal services. | “We have rescued a lot of people, and we must now be vigilant against looting,” he added, announcing that an emergency plan was now in effect to mobilise police, emergency responders and municipal services. |
| One local compared scenes in Cannes on Sunday morning to the zombie TV series, The Walking Dead, picturing several damaged cars. | One local compared scenes in Cannes on Sunday morning to the zombie TV series, The Walking Dead, picturing several damaged cars. |
| Les rues de #Cannes ont un air de "The Walking Dead" ce matin, sauf que ce n'est pas de la fiction #jamaisvuca pic.twitter.com/dFACFwtM0Q | Les rues de #Cannes ont un air de "The Walking Dead" ce matin, sauf que ce n'est pas de la fiction #jamaisvuca pic.twitter.com/dFACFwtM0Q |
| French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve was due to visit the affected area on Sunday morning to take stock of rescue efforts, his spokesman said. | French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve was due to visit the affected area on Sunday morning to take stock of rescue efforts, his spokesman said. |
| Hollande thanked rescuers and politicians for their work so far, expressing the “solidarity of the nation” and offering condolences to the families affected, while prime minister Manuel Valls spoke of his “deep emotion” upon hearing of the deaths. | Hollande thanked rescuers and politicians for their work so far, expressing the “solidarity of the nation” and offering condolences to the families affected, while prime minister Manuel Valls spoke of his “deep emotion” upon hearing of the deaths. |
| The areas worst-hit by flooding were also the hardest to access, officials said, raising fears the death toll could rise again, while 35,000 homes were confirmed to be without power. | The areas worst-hit by flooding were also the hardest to access, officials said, raising fears the death toll could rise again, while 35,000 homes were confirmed to be without power. |
| French rail company SNCF said around a dozen trains had to be halted with hundreds on board for the safety of passengers, while roads around Antibes were also flooded, according to French emergency services. | French rail company SNCF said around a dozen trains had to be halted with hundreds on board for the safety of passengers, while roads around Antibes were also flooded, according to French emergency services. |
| “Campsites are under water, and two helicopters are circling to ensure the public’s security, as some people are stuck on the roof of their caravans,” said a spokeswoman for the fire brigade. | |
| Up to 500 tourists, including several Britons and Danes, sought shelter overnight at Nice airport, while a Nice-Nantes football match was also interrupted by the downpours. | Up to 500 tourists, including several Britons and Danes, sought shelter overnight at Nice airport, while a Nice-Nantes football match was also interrupted by the downpours. |
| Forecasters at France’s weather agency said the worst storms had now passed over the French mainland and were headed for the Italian coast. | Forecasters at France’s weather agency said the worst storms had now passed over the French mainland and were headed for the Italian coast. |
| Nice’s mayor’s office has estimated the city received 10% of its average annual rainfall in the past two days alone. | Nice’s mayor’s office has estimated the city received 10% of its average annual rainfall in the past two days alone. |