Ten dead in Var flooding disaster

[Pierre]

At least ten people have died and four others are reported missing in the worst floods to hit the Var in south-eastern France in a decade.

The department was the worst-affected of the 11 placed on "orange" weather alert by Météo France on Monday night, with up to 12 inches of torrential rain in Draguignan yesterday evening and overnight.

Draguignan sous-préfet said ten people had died, but did not reveal any of the circumstances.

Some 180 people were air-lifted out of the homes in cut-off communes including Roquebrune-sur-Argens, La Motte, Lorgue, Vidauban and Le Muy, where four people are missing.

Residents in the Var were advised last night not to leave their homes unless it was urgent. About 1,200 people spent last night in emergency accommodation and 100,000 homes are still without electricity.

Part of the A8 motorway was cut off overnight but is now functioning normally. Rail services between Nice and Toulon were suspended last night and are still disrupted this morning.

Toulon airport was closed due to a flooded runway. This morning's first flight, the 6.25 to Paris, was cancelled but there are no updates yet on other departures today. Check the website here if you are due to fly.

The rain continues to fall this morning but Météo France has lifted its weather alert - moving it instead to two departments in the south-west, the Hautes-Pyrénées and Pyrénées-Atlantiques, where heavy rain and floods are expected until tomorrow morning.

Torrential rain in Southern France. Notice "up to 12 inches of torrential rain in Draguignan over less than 24 hours", knowing that average rainfall in the area is 33 inches a year and that most rains occurs from September to November, June being of the dryer months.

Average monthly rainfall (mm) in Nice

So Draguignan recorded more than 1/3 (300 mm+) of its average yearly rainfall (850 mm) over less 24 hours during one of the dryer months of the year

Update: 11 deads and 12 are still missing (http://fr.news.yahoo.com/80/20100616/tfr-intempries-dans-le-var-au-moins-11-m-a7ee481.html)

 

[Regulattor]

Although the worst is over now, end of May and beginning of Jun for parts of eastern Croatia, ware the most rainy days in records. Flooding of agricultural fields was devastating and some areas received up to 250 liters of rain per square meter in less then 72h. There was one women dead after landslide and few soldiers injured after vehicle rollover.

_http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/General_News/2010-06-03/11403/East_Croatia_continues_to_fight_with_floods
East Croatia continues to fight with floods

Croatian Times

Heavy rains have caused flooding in Slavonija, east Croatia over the past few days.

With houses and fields under water residents and cattle have been evacuated in boats and the damage is estimated to run into millions.

More than 250 litres of rain per square metre fell in Zupanja over the last few days devastating the area. Locals are being warned to drink only bottled water and Zagreb officials have sent 5,000, 1.5 litres bottles to the area.

Around 200 soldiers have been called in to help build dykes.

Croatian PM Jadranka Kosor and President Ivo Josipovic who visited the area yesterday (Wed) said the government would do everything possible in order to help people who have been forced to leave their homes.

The Croatian Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal. All information can be found on the web site

Now, it isn't so unusual to see some serious rains in this area in springtime, but the quantity of precipitation is strange and record breaking in some places! And latest weather developments in South Africa surely adds more information about strange weather patterns globally.

You can check this article on usatoday.com. It's about how latest cold front delivered snow in southern parts of SA and was responsible for death of 500 penguins.
_http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-06-15-3754018271_x.htm