- Title: Storms batter southern France, flooding some towns
- Date: 23rd October 2019
- Summary: SERVIAN, FRANCE (OCTOBER 23, 2019) (REUTERS) WATER FLOODING THROUGH STREET VARIOUS OF BLOCK OF CEMENT MOVED BY FLOOD WATER RESIDENTS CLEANING UP AFTER FLOOD VARIOUS OF DAMAGE IN STREET GARAGE DOORS OPEN WITH VARIOUS DEBRIS ON GROUND AFTER FLOOD RESIDENT AND TEACHER, STEPHANE, WALKING THROUGH GARAGE AND SHOWING TANK THAT WAS MOVED OFF WALL BECAUSE OF FLOOD (SOUNDBITE) (French) SERVIAN RESIDENT AND TEACHER, STEPHANE, SAYING: "Yesterday it began raining but this morning at 7 a.m. everything was still all right, our feet were still dry and then at 3 p.m. this afternoon we were drowning." WATER MARK ON WALL SHOWING LEVEL WATER REACHED (SOUNDBITE) (French) SERVIAN RESIDENT AND RETIRED MAN, JEAN-LOUIS, SAYING: "At one point I said we have to go because the water was rising very, very quickly. So, we tried to get out but it was impossible because the door is electric so the current was cut. My daughter, who is a former firefighter, managed to get the key in and we got out. But when I got here, look at the level (points to wall), it's my height, there was water up to here. And my wife is disabled and that man, a great firefighter, put my wife on his shoulder and brought us to his house, he gave us shelter. I was really, really overwhelmed, I've never seen water rise that fast. I've lived here for 20 years and this is the first time." MONTESCOT, FRANCE (OCTOBER 23, 2019) (REUTERS) LIGHTNING AND RAIN DURING STORM ARGELES-SUR-MER, FRANCE (OCTOBER 23, 2019) (REUTERS) CAR ON ROAD POLE, MUD IN STREET AFTER FLOOD WATER FLOODING STREET VAN DRIVING IN MUDDY STREET / TYRE TRACKS ROAD SIGN READING (French): "FLOODED ROAD" / MUDDY STREET, MAN WALKING DOG VARIOUS OD RESIDENTS WALKING IN STREETS WITH MUD RIVER OVERFLOWING / BRIDGE IN BACKGROUND
- Embargoed: 6th November 2019 16:48
- Keywords: floods heavy rain storm rainfall southern France weather
- Location: BEZIERS AND VILLEUNEUVE-LES-BEZIERS, SERVIAN, MONTESCOT AND ARGELES-SUR-MER, FRANCE
- City: BEZIERS AND VILLEUNEUVE-LES-BEZIERS, SERVIAN, MONTESCOT AND ARGELES-SUR-MER, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Floods
- Reuters ID: LVA002B2BKCP3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Storms and heavy rain lashed through southern France on Wednesday (October 23), causing flooding strong enough to sweep away cars in some towns in the region.
In the city of Argeles-sur-Mer in the Pyrenees-Orientales department, one vehicle ended up wedged on top of a traffic bollard.
Across the region, streets and roads have been severely damaged and covered with mud, forcing residents to clean up. Blocks of cement have been moved by flood water.
France's national weather authority said storms and heavy rains could continue through to Thursday (October 24).
(Production: Noemie Olive, Pascale Antonie and Alexandre Minguez) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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