Two dead as storms rage across France
Heavy rains and violent winds left two dead, four missing and thousands in southern France without electricity today.
Rescuers searched for four people who disappeared in the southern regions of Languedoc and Roussillon after the storms struck. Two people were killed on a beach.
The Ardeche River, which flows through picturesque canyons and draws hoards of outdoor enthusiasts, was one of several rivers that rose above alert levels. More than 1,000 people were evacuated from camp grounds along the river.
Among the missing was an 18-year-old girl swept away by the Ardeche overnight, said Charles Isaac-Tourre, the mayor of the riverside town of Labeaume. A male companion saved himself by grabbing onto a tree.
Electricity was wiped out in thousands of home and red flags were raised at several of France’s Mediterranean beaches to warn swimmers away.
Meteo France, the national weather service, forecast heavy storms by tonight for western and central France, including Paris.
