Deadly flash floods hit France and Italy

2024-07-07 15:18:58

Heavy rains have caused flash floods in south-eastern France and north-western Italy, killing at least seven people on both sides of the border.

Storm Alex has destroyed dozens of houses and washed away roads in a mountainous border region near Nice.

Coastal areas on the French Riviera were devastated, with long stretches of beaches littered with storm debris.

Meanwhile, rescue workers stepped up their search efforts amid fears that up to 20 people were missing.

On Monday, French officials said three more bodies had been found in villages north of Nice, bringing the death toll in the country to four. At least three people have been killed in Italy.

Nice and its surrounding area saw almost a year's rainfall in less than 12 hours over the weekend.

Storm Alex, which brought fierce winds and torrential rain, then moved into northern Italy where record rainfall has also been seen.

In France, around 1,000 firefighters were deployed along with helicopters and soldiers to the Alpes-Maritimes region.

A search is underway for eight people who were seen being dragged away by the floodwaters.

These included two firefighters whose vehicle was washed away when a road collapsed near the village of Saint-Martin-Vesubie, which was completely cut off by the storm.

In a number of French villages along the border, landslides covered roads and buildings in mud, and cars were left buried in the slurry.

"My three-story house, it's in the river," Sandra Dzidt, 62, told AFP news agency. "All I have left is a tiny piece of wall and a door."

In total, firefighters have rescued more than 500 people in Alpes-Maritimes with around 150 still needing to be evacuated.

Monika Walker

Monika Walker is a senior journalist specializing in regional and international politics, offering in-depth analysis on governance, diplomacy, and key global developments. With a degree in International Journalism, she is dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices through factual reporting. She also covers world news across every genre, providing readers with balanced and timely insights that connect the Caribbean to global conversations.