Three dead and two disappear in floods

Copyright Cristiano Di Pasquale

64-year-old Guy Destrem, who was also the Vice President of the Conseil Général of Ariège, was found dead at 7pm Monday on a small island in the middle of the Arget River near Serres-sur-Arget village in the Foix area. It is believed he was washed away by the heavy floods while inspecting the water levels. 

Meanwhile yesterday morning, two men were working on a 'Cari' digging vehicle in Carros when the machine was washed away in flood waters of the Var rivers near Castagniers. One of the workers, known as Gérard, aged 62, managed to hold onto the vehicle as it was drawn into the flooded river, and was eventually pulled to safety by rescue crews. However, 52-year-old Pascal from Nice was washed down stream. Carros and Nice police are working with the criminal identification unit to locate the missing man. 

Near Perpignan in the Pyrénées-Orientales, a woman in her 50s has been declared missing after attempting to cross a flooded ford near the Têt River on Monday morning. The woman was walking with her partner and son when floods from the River Tèt near Millas washed her and her child away. The son was later saved from the rising waters. 

Throughout the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes, authorities have responded to 2,500 calls for help. So far, the floods have claimed four lives, and the fate of two other people remain unknown. 

The Prefect of the Var has announced road difficulties on the RD 197 PR7 Hyères Lieu-dit Le Pousset this morning. The RD 268 PR 0 to 2, RD 8, 12 PR 22, 35 and 70 all remain shut due to flooding. Traffic is said to be slow on the RD 24-PR 13, 25 Vins sur Caramy, 559-PR 68+800, 560, 38, 93, 559 and 73 PR 2 Tarandeau.

The Prefect also warns drivers to take extra care on roads, looking out for fallen trees and washed up obstacles as a result of the floods.

To view the Riviera Times photo gallery of the recent floods, click here

Louise Kirby