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Image posted, EPA
Damaged house in Piedmont, Northern Italy
At least two people were killed and 25 others were missing after a powerful storm hit southern France and northwestern Italy.
The storm, which was named “Alex”, brought strong winds and torrential rains that caused torrential flooding.
Some villages were severely damaged around the city of Nice in southern France. The mayor described the floods as the worst in living memory.
Image posted, EPA
A broken bridge over the Vesope river in southern France.
In northern Italy, floodwaters washed away several roads and bridges, while several rivers rose to drown their banks.
Two people died in Italy, one of whom was a man in his 30s, whose car was swept into a river.
In northwestern Italy, 17 people have disappeared, including a group of at least four Germans who were traveling up the mountain, authorities said.
In the Piedmont region, several villages were cut off after rain cut off roads. Officials described the situation as “extremely critical.”
Hundreds of humanitarian workers were dispatched to help with rescue efforts in isolated villages.
A flood barrier system, which was recently declared operational, protected the city of Venice, which was preparing for a high water level after being hit by heavy storms in August.
Image posted, AFP
A collapsed road in the village of Roquebiliere, in southern France.
In France, eight people were reported missing.
The villages are isolated in steep valleys, north of Nice.
After a helicopter tour of the most affected areas, the mayor of the city, Christian Estrozzi, told the “BFM” channel: “The roads and around a hundred houses were demolished or partially destroyed.”
And the meteorological agency “Meteo France” said some areas witnessed 450 mm of rain in 24 hours, which is equivalent to four months of rain at this time of year, according to the Reuters news agency.
Authorities closed beaches in Nice and other coastal areas and asked people to stay in their homes, according to Agence France-Presse.
On Friday, the storm hit the western Atlantic coast of France, cutting off power to thousands of homes.
The Brittany region experienced strong winds, with speeds exceeding 180 km per hour.
