{"id":119901,"date":"2025-05-21T13:34:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T13:34:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/119901\/"},"modified":"2025-05-21T13:34:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T13:34:10","slug":"map-shows-scale-of-flooding-across-southern-france-which-left-three-people-dead-news-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/119901\/","title":{"rendered":"Map shows scale of flooding across southern France which left three people dead | News World"},"content":{"rendered":"

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At least three people have died after severe flooding and storms hit the south of France<\/a>.<\/p>\n

An elderly couple were killed yesterday after the floods swept through the seaside town of Le Lavandou, which sits along the south eastern coast of France.<\/p>\n

Their car was swept away by the floodwaters and the woman\u2019s body was found trapped inside the wreckage, France24 reported.<\/a><\/p>\n

A man also died in the town of Vidauban, around 18 miles north of Le Lavandou, after getting stuck in his car.<\/p>\n

Police are investigating their causes of death but prosecutor Samuel Finielzsaid the situation is \u2018quite difficult on the ground\u2019.<\/p>\n

Mayor of Le Lavandou, Gil Bernandi, said the aftermath of the flooding were similar to \u2018scenes of war\u2019, with \u2018bridges torn down\u2019 and \u2018roads torn up\u2019.<\/p>\n

He said during a press conference: \u2018The roads, the bridges, the paving stones, there is no more electricity, water, or wastewater treatment plant. The shock is significant because the phenomenon is truly violent and incomprehensible.<\/p>\n

\u2018As we speak, an entire part of the commune is inaccessible.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Var region of southeastern France has been placed under an orange alert for rain<\/a>, flooding and thunderstorms by Meteo-France, the country\u2019s national weather<\/a> service.<\/p>\n

Pictures from the area show cars submerged in floodwater, people running to safety and homes flooded out.<\/p>\n

Yellow flood alerts have also been issued for northern parts of France for today and tomorrow.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Map
\n\t\tThis map shows where flooding took place in France yesterday (Picture: Metro)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Map
\n\t\tThis is where flood and thunderstorm yellow alerts are in place for France today and tomorrow (Picture: Metro)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"People
\n\t\tFrench citizens were seen crossing roads without their shoes and socks and clutching onto their belongings earlier today (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The town\u2019s mayor, Claude Pianetti, wrote on Facebook: \u2018After a few hours of intense rain on our municipality, we regret to mourn the death of a person drowned in his vehicle. <\/p>\n

\u2018A female driver and her passenger got engaged on a country road completely submerged and fell into the ditch. <\/p>\n

\u2018A witness who was otherwise elected as a municipal, helped the two people who could only save the female driver.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Cars
\n\t\tThe scenes in the south east of France like in Le Lavandou have been described as \u2018incomprehensible (Picture: Reuters)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Workers
\n\t\tRoads have been left covered in mud after flooding in Le Lavandou (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u2018Firefighters, PM, police officers and their divers are still on site to extract the vehicle from the stream. We extend our sincere condolences to the victim\u2019s family and relatives.\u2019<\/p>\n

Heavy rain also forced a TGV train service from Toulouse to Paris to become dislodged.<\/p>\n

More than 500 passengers were evacuated by bus after the train was forced to stop on the tracks overnight near Tonneins.<\/p>\n

The rescue operation involved involved dozens of firefighters, police and volunteers.<\/p>\n

Mayor of Tonneins, Dante Rinaudo, told AFP: \u2018We narrowly avoided a disaster, the tracks were exposed and the TGV was suspended.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"A
\n\t\tFlooding has caused the partial collapse of some buildings like in Le Lavandou (Picture: Reuters)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Bus
\n\t\tPublic transport services like buses were also left submerged in Le Lavandou (Picture: Reuters)<\/p>\n

He said that the storms should be recognised by the government as a natural disaster.<\/p>\n

Another train also travelling between Toulouse and Paris got stranded in Agen.<\/p>\n

State rail operator SNCF said trains would be suspended for \u2018at least several days\u2019 between Agen and Marmande.<\/p>\n

It confirmed services between Bordeaux and Toulouse would also be affected.<\/p>\n

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

For more stories like this, <\/strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\nMORE: Is it safe to travel to France? Latest advice after \u2018truly violent\u2019 floods and rainstorms<\/a><\/p>\n

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\nMORE: What is a \u2018personhood\u2019 and why has this chalk stream been granted one?<\/a><\/p>\n

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\nMORE: Black tornado looms \u2018like scene in Stranger Things\u2019 during storms which killed 27<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tNews Updates<\/p>\n

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