13 dead after heavy flooding in French riviera

NICE, France - Agence France-Presse

A man walks through rubble and damaged cars after violent storms and floods in Biot, southeastern France, on October 4, 2015. AFP Photo

Violent storms and flooding along the French riviera killed 13 people by early Oct.4, emergency responders and local officials said, including three who drowned in a retirement home inundated when a river broke its banks.

Five others are believed to have died as they sought to park their cars under shelter, according to local authorities, while emergency responders said three others drowned in their car when it became stuck inside a tunnel.
 
Heavy flooding along the Cote d'Azur, in France's southeast, saw the River Brague burst its banks close to the city of Antibes and sent deadly waves crashing into the nearby home for the elderly.
 
A woman in her sixties also died on the street in the resort city of Cannes when huge storms hit the region on Saturday night, sending water and debris coursing down submerged roads in the famous festival town and in its glamorous neighbour, Nice.
 
Another victim was found dead at an Antibes campsite, according to local officials.
 
"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.
 
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 President Francois 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.
 
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.
 
"Camp sites 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 British and Danish nationals, 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.
 
Nice's mayor's office has estimated the city received 10 percent of its average annual rainfall in the past two days alone.