Flood situation in France gradually easing

Major floods that struck parts of France due to heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday began slowly easing on Saturday.

In many areas, clean-up and repair work has commenced. Emergency services, residents and workers were clearing streets, houses and supermarkets of mud and debris.

Given the immense damage, a return to normality is not expected anytime soon in many areas.

The motorway between the south-eastern cities of Lyon and Saint-Étienne, which was cut off due to the large amount of water, was back in operation on Saturday. But train services between the two cities are not expected to resume until Monday.

To better compensate affected farmers in the region, the floods have been classified as a natural disaster by the regional administration, or prefecture.

Parts of France were affected by heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday. Entire towns were completely flooded, cars were swept away, and people had to be evacuated.

Nationwide, the emergency services carried out 2,300 operations.