Floods hit south-east France
Around 20 people have been killed and a further 12 are still missing after flash floods hit mountains above the popular tourist region of the Cote D'Azur in France, on Tuesday 15 June. Many of those who died were trapped in their cars as flood waters swept through the streets of Draguignan, the worst-hit area. Around 2,000 rescue workers were drafted in to search through the debris for survivors in flooded houses as water reached levels of six foot or more in some places – rescue helicopters airlifted people to safety – some from the roofs of their houses. The floods, the region’s worst since 1827, have caused around 175,000 houses to lose electricity, and forced 1,000 to leave their homes for the safety of temporary shelters – rescue teams had to move 436 inmates from a prison in Draguignan after two floors flooded. Rail and air services were also interrupted and some 300 people were trapped by floodwaters while travelling on a high-speed train between Nice and Lille. The devastation comes as the region, a tourist hotspot, gears up for thousands of summer holiday visitors.
Around 20 people have been killed and a further 12 are still missing after flash floods hit mountains above the popular tourist region of the Cote D'Azur in France, on Tuesday 15 June. Many of those who died were trapped in their cars as flood waters swept through the streets of Draguignan, the worst-hit area.
Around 2,000 rescue workers were drafted in to search through the debris for survivors in flooded houses as water reached levels of six foot or more in some places – rescue helicopters airlifted people to safety – some from the roofs of their houses.
The floods, the region’s worst since 1827, have caused around 175,000 houses to lose electricity, and forced 1,000 to leave their homes for the safety of temporary shelters – rescue teams had to move 436 inmates from a prison in Draguignan after two floors flooded.
Rail and air services were also interrupted and some 300 people were trapped by floodwaters while travelling on a high-speed train between Nice and Lille. The devastation comes as the region, a tourist hotspot, gears up for thousands of summer holiday visitors.