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Floods leave damage across southern France

Torrential downpours wreaked havoc in southern France over the weekend, destroying roads and washing away cars.

Published: 14 September 2015 09:58 CEST
Floods leave damage across southern France
Residents begin the clean up after the weekend's floods in southern France. Photo: Pascal Guyot/AFP
The violent thunderstorms in the Herault département of southern France hit on Saturday night, prompting the La Lergue river to break its banks.
 
 
Emergency services were called to 172 incidents over the night and day, as the storms left a trail of damage in its wake.

One couple in their eighties was rescued from their car after it washed away, reported Le Parisien. 
 
 
A section of the A75 motorway fell away, see below, leaving a gaping hole measuring 8 by ten metres. Traffic was closed in both directions. 

Local authorities estimated that the damage on the road alone could take weeks to fix.

Pont-Saint-Esprit, in the Gard département, 208 millimetres of rain alone, with nearby Montelimar recording 154 millimetres.

The weather was back to normal by Sunday afternoon, with locals now facing the mammoth task of restoring order to their southern French towns.


(Photo: Google Maps)

All photos: Pascal Guyot/AFP

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TRAVEL NEWS

How has Storm Louis been affecting travel in Sweden?

Trains in and out of Gothenburg have suffered major delays, several bridges have been closed and drivers have been advised to stay at home. Here is how Storm Louis has affected traffic in Sweden.

Published: 23 February 2024 13:49 CET
How has Storm Louis been affecting travel in Sweden?

Trains

Trains in and out of Gothenburg station more or less ground to a halt between 8.30am and 11.30am, but began moving again around noon. 

According to Sweden’s national rail company SJ there are still delays and disruptions to services between Gothenburg and Stockholm, Gothenburg and Västerås, Gothenburg and Malmö, and Gothenburg and Karlstad. 

Västtrafik, which operates regional trains in western Sweden has cancelled several trains with other services facing significant delays. 

On the company’s website, they said services between Ed and Trollhättan, Strömstad and Gothenburg, Uddevalla and Varberg and Gothenburg to Lidköping and Örebro would all be cancelled, with replacement buses provided. 

The company recommended checking its To Go app, or looking at its travel planner website. 

Värmlandstrafik, which operates local transport in Värmland has cancelled services between Sunne and Torsby due to a tree on the line, with replacement buses provided. 

Ferries 

Ferries to islands such as Styrsö and Vrångö in the archipelago south of Gothenburg have been cancelled.  The Gullmarsleden ferry over to Lysekil was also cancelled, as was the chain ferry across to the Bolmsö in the middle of lake Bolmen.

Bridges 

The Tjörn Bridge to the island of Tjörn was closed on Friday morning and remained closed at 1.30pm. The Uddevalla Bridge across Sunninge sound was also closed, blocking the E6 motorway, but reopened around noon. 

Roads 

Fallen trees have blocked roads such as the E18 between Knöstad och Valnäs, road 702 between Trossnäs and Bofasterud, road 62 between Tjörnheden and Olsäter, road 664 between Norsbron and Björkåsmotet and road 240 at Väse Kyrka.

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