Tragedy Strikes French Riviera as Floods Claim Three Lives

At least three individuals have perished due to devastating floods linked to heavy rainfall in the French Riviera region, with local authorities detailing significant impacts on infrastructure and emergency services.

At least three people have lost their lives in catastrophic flooding in southern France, notably impacting the seaside resort town of Le Lavandou. Following torrential storms and heavy rains that began on Monday, the bodies of an elderly couple were retrieved from flooded areas, while a third victim became trapped in a vehicle in Vidauban. Local officials have reported that continuous rainfall caused significant flooding, disrupting power and water supply across the region.

Accidents have escalated as critical infrastructure suffered severe damage, prompting the suspension of services for at least two regional train routes. The Toulon public prosecutor revealed that the couple, unable to anticipate the rapid escalation of water levels, was swept away after attempting to evacuate their home. An official investigation regarding their deaths is currently underway.

City officials in Le Lavandou voiced their shock, describing the flooding levels in the Cavalière district as “unprecedented,” with reports indicating that over 256mm of rain fell within a single hour. The local mayor, Gil Bernardi, painted a grim picture of the destruction, including uprooted roads and destroyed bridges. Portions of the town remain inaccessible as a principle thoroughfare remains submerged under water.

In Vidauban, a person tragically lost their life when they drove into a flooded region and fell into a ditch. Despite attempts from a bystander to save both vehicle occupants, only the driver was rescued, highlighting the hazards posed by the unexpected conditions.

Emergency services have been inundated with calls, recording upwards of 500 requests in just a day, and deploying hundreds of rescue personnel from surrounding regions, including Cannes. Although initial warnings pertaining to thunderstorms and flooding were issued for Var region, these have been downgraded, while over 600 households still face electricity outages as authorities work to rectify the situation.

The heavy rains and consequential hailstorms that struck the southwestern part of France on Monday evening have continued to disrupt transportation, notably affecting the Bordeaux-Toulouse railway line with delays and cancellations anticipated over the upcoming days.