Last Updated on October 4, 2020, 8:29 AM AST by Anthony Morris
At least two people lost their lives, and at least 25 went missing after a powerful storm hit north-western Italy and southern France.
The storm named Alex brought torrential rains and fierce winds causing severe floods.
Many villages suffered severe damage around the southern city of Nice. The mayor of the Nice city described it as the worst flooding in his memory.
The floodwater swept away roads and bridges in Italy, while rivers overflowed their banks.
A firefighter in the Aosta Valley was one of the victims in Italy, while the other was a man whose car was swept into a river in the Piedmont region.
It is being said that 17 other people are missing in the north-west of the country after heavy rains hit overnight.
The officials said that among these people is a group of at least four German trekkers who had not returned from a trip in the mountains.
Several villages in Piedmont were cut off after the rains made roads impassable. The officials described the situation there as “extremely critical”.
Hundreds of aid workers are deployed to help the rescue efforts in the villages which are cut-off.
The storm also affected the regions of Liguria and Lombardy.
The city of Venice, which was braced for high waters after suffering violent storms in August, was protected by a flood barrier system successfully which was recently declared fully operational.
In France, eight people are said to be missing. Several villages towards the north of Nice, have been cut off.
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi, after flying over the worst-hit area by helicopter said that the roads and around 100 houses were swept away or destroyed partially.
Météo-France, Meteorological agency said that 450mm (17.7in) rain fell in some areas in 24 hours which is the equivalent of nearly four months of rain at this time of year, reports Reuters news agency.
Winds of over 180km/h were recorded in Brittany on Thursday and Friday.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
