Floods in the Alpes-Maritimes: 16 dead and 5 missing
Very violent storms hit the Alpes-Maritimes on Saturday evening. Sixteen people died in the floods and five others are missing. François Hollande visited the site.
The results have evolved in recent hours: Sixteen people died in floods following the very violent storms which hit the Alpes-Maritimes on Saturday evening. Five people are missing. The results are still not final because relief efforts are struggling to reach disaster areas. Emergency reinforcements were requested beyond the department.
The deluge on Saturday evening caused the Brague river to flood and submerge the streets of Cannes, Manderiez-la-Napoule, Nice and Villeneuve-Louvet. In two days, the region experienced a month's worth of precipitation. The orange alert is maintained in the Var and the Alpes Maritimes until 23 p.m.
François Hollande went to the town of Biot and announced that the “state of natural disaster” will be announced next Wednesday in the council of ministers.
16 homes deprived of electricity, SNCF traffic interrupted
This Sunday, 16 homes were still without electricity. At 000 p.m., ERDF announced in a press release that it was “ mobilized to restore electricity to the 16 homes which were still without it at 000 p.m."
Cannes town hall has announced that schools will remain closed tomorrow.
SNCF traffic is completely interrupted in the region. According to the SNCF, 4000 people slept on trains at several Var stations last night.
Looting in the city of Cannes.
At 18 o'clock, the prefect of Alpes-Martimes, Adolphe Colrat deplored the looting that occurred during storms and in disaster areas. Malicious people took advantage of the damage caused by the floods to loot in the Cannes city center and help themselves in abandoned stores. Nine people were arrested according to the mayor of Cannes, David Lisnard, who declared at a press conference: “ All the districts of Cannes are today devastated: many store windows have been damaged, even perforated, shattered, under the force of the water or street furniture which was carried by the water, and we are committed to also protecting property – after people, obviously"
Christian Estrosi: “We have never seen this on our territory”
The damage caused by the torrential rains provoked numerous reactions from politicians. In a speech at the French Embassy in Japan, Prime Minister Manuel Valls gave his support to the families of the victims. President François Hollande announced the establishment of a support fund for devastated municipalities.
Christian Estrosi is in shock: “The damage is incredible, we have never seen this in our territory” confided the deputy mayor of Nice on his Twitter account.
Marineland water park 90% devastated
According to France 3 Côte d'Azur, the Marineland animal park was severely affected by the floods. 90% of the Antilles park would be devastated. On Twitter, the Brigitte Bardot foundation mentions considerable damage and “numerous animal victims”:
