Videos: dramatic flooding in south-east france sees dozens evacuated

HEAVY RAINFALL CAUSED SEVERAL RIVERS TO BREAK THEIR BANKS, FORCING 52 RESIDENTS TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES Intense rainfall in the south-east of France yesterday led to several rivers breaking

their banks, and the evacuation of 52 local residents.  Stormy weather covered the Alpes-Maritimes department yesterday (June 24), with bursts of intense rain, particularly in the

mountainous areas close to the Italian border.  Rivers, including the Boréon and Vésubie, saw their levels rapidly rise. Two bridges were temporarily submerged under the water, and one of

the main roads in the village of Saint-Martin-Vésubie was flooded in the evening.  Nice’s Deputy mayor, Gaël Nofri, said the bridges did not sustain any lasting damage from the water, but

two fords over the Boréon river had been affected by the floods.  You can see videos of the river flooding the local area, as well as photos of the damaged road and aftermath of the

flooding, below. > Le passage à gué du barrage du Boréon complètement enseveli par > les fortes pluies de la veille, au dessus de Saint-Martin-Vésubie.  > 52 personnes dont 4 

enfants ont été évacuées et relogées par la > mairie. >  > Images @TF1Info  > Avec @Chris__Napoli pic.twitter.com/oItS6TFUOX > — Johan Rouquet (@JohanRouquet) June 25, 2024

> Inondations à Saint-Martin-Vésubie: "Une quarantaine de personnes > sont coincées là-haut", mais "pas de personnes en danger", affirme > l'adjoint au 

maire Thierry Ingigliardi pic.twitter.com/n4H72l8F8z > — BFMTV (@BFMTV) June 24, 2024 > Des pensées pour Saint-Martin Vésubie... encore touchée > !https://t.co/PXZ0IX9xXT > — 

jlGauthier (@CarmenG99620384) June 25, 2024 > Soutien aux habitants de mon village de Saint-Martin-Vésubie une > nouvelle fois touchés par de fortes intempéries. >  > Les 

ouvrages provisoires jamais achevés ont été encore emportés > ! pic.twitter.com/HSbsYAVTXm > — Eric Ciotti (@eciotti) June 24, 2024 > Le point sur les fortes #pluies et #orages 

survenus hier à Saint > Martin Vésubie : 2 passages à gué et 3 ponts ensevelis, mais le > Pont Maïssa a tenu. Pas de dégâts humains. > Suivez le direct à la #radio (Vésubie 92.9), 

l’appli #ici et > https://t.co/RB06dkCEIG > (📸 Pompiers) pic.twitter.com/AhIkD8zKkd > — ici Azur (@iciazur) June 25, 2024 You can also find more photos taken of the flooding on

local media outlet Var Matin.  DOZENS OF PEOPLE EVACUATED  Those living close to the riverbanks were evacuated by emergency services over the course of the evening, with 52 people –

including four children – eventually being removed from their homes.  They were relocated to a nearby community hall. “With the rain still falling and as it was night, we wondered whether we

should wait until Tuesday to evacuate. But we were too afraid that the weather would get worse,” said Saint-Martin-Vésubie mayor Ivan Mottet to Var Matin. A group of hikers, who were

visiting nearby, brought supplies to the evacuated residents. “They were all well equipped with warm clothes and mackintoshes. They are all seasoned mountaineers and were smiling,” the mayor

added. The village has been hit by severe storms multiple times in the last few years, including by storm Alex in 2020, and storm Aline in October 2023, when bridges and river crossings

were also submerged.  Videos of the damage from storm Aline can be seen below. Read more: SEE: Damage in south-east after storms lash coastal areas and inland “Everything is being destroyed,

we're suffering the loss of roads yet again,” said Saint-Martin-Vésubie’s deputy mayor Thierry Ingigliardi.  “It is effectively the fourth time bridges have been destroyed [by

storms]... they are temporary structures and not strong enough.” “Everything is being destroyed, we're suffering the loss of roads yet again,” said Saint-Martin-Vésubie’s deputy mayor

Thierry Ingigliardi.  “It is effectively the fourth time bridges have been destroyed [by storms]...they are temporary structures and not strong enough.”