Severe weather with heavy flooding in southern France

Heavy rainfall in parts of France caused flooding, evacuations and closed motorways and railway lines on Thursday.

The weather service Météo France issued the highest red warning level for six regions in the southern half of the country, and an orange warning level was issued for 34 regions.

Around 900 people had to be evacuated in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Television images showed flooded motorways, submerged supermarkets and cars floating in the water.

Hundreds of firefighters were deployed, and the authorities issued an urgent warning against entering flooded areas on foot or by car. However, initially there were no reports of any injuries.

"We are dealing with a situation that is unprecedented in its extent," said Minister for Ecological Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher.

In some places, she said, 60 centimetres of rain has fallen in just 48 hours, which is "absolutely massive ... This has not happened since time immemorial."

"We are collectively confronted with episodes that are linked to climate change and that we will experience more and more regularly, we have to prepare for them," the minister warned.

A crisis team has been set up at the ministry, and all the relevant services are being mobilized, she said.