1 dead and 3 missing following flash floods in south-east France, with over 7 inches of rain in 24 hours recorded

A heavy storm triggered flash floods in south east France yesterday, Thursday 27 November 2014.

Later on Thursday the French Interior Ministry confirmed that one woman had died in the floods and 3 were still missing. Three other people have been reported as injured.

The fatality occurred in the village of La Londe, Var department. The woman was believed to have been in her vehicle near a river at the time it was swept away. Her young daughter was also in the vehicle at the time. Emergency services are carrying out searches for the missing child. Two other people are missing after being swept away by a swollen river in the same area.

Flooding also affected the tourist area of St Tropez, where around 30 students were trapped in a school building by flood water in Grimaud. They were eventually rescued late in the evening.

[embedded content]

190 mm of Rain in 24 Hours

The heavy rain began to fall in southeastern France on Wednesday. According to Meteo France, during the 24 hour period 26 to 27 November, 190 mm of rain fell in Collobrières, 150mm in Hyères and 120 mm in Fréjus.

On Wednesday 26 November, 5 people had to be rescued by helicopter from their home in Roquebrune sur Argens. As many as 1,500 people had to evacuate their homes in Hyères after the Gapeau river threatened to burst its banks.

A road damaged by flood during a violent storm in La Londe Les Maures, southeastern France, November 27, 2014

Flood warnings remain in place today 28 November, for Ardeche, Gard, Le Var and Herault. Further heavy rainfall is likely today.

The severe weather and heavy rainfall were predicted by forecasters. Earlier this week we reported that the same weather system that caused widespread flash flooding in Morocco was likely to hit southern France and northern Italy. The region has endured endless flash floods and heavy rain throughout November. Earlier this week Accuweather said "So far this month, Nice, France, has already received 614 percent of its normal November rainfall". That figure is likely to be significantly higher after the latest deluge.

Earlier this month at least 5 people died in flooding in France after torrential rain affected France, Switzerland and Italy from 14 November 2014.