Eleven people have been killed and two are still missing after torrential rains caused flash flooding in southern France.
Floodwater washed cars and trees away in Draguignan
Gushing water turned streets into rivers and swept up trees and cars sending residents scurrying to safety on rooftops.
The drama happened in the town of Draguignan about an hour west of Cannes, where the annual film festival is held.
Rescuers scrambled overnight to help hundreds of people trapped in their vehicles and houses while helicopters were sent in to airlift residents to safety.
Floodwaters reached more than six feet in some areas as 12 inches of rain fell in as many hours.
Regional officials reported that 1,200 people had spent the night in shelters and up to 200,000 homes were without electricity.
"We haven't seen anything like this in a decade," said Var department representative Hugues Parant.
Locals are assessing damage now that the water is beginning to subside
A high-speed train carrying 300 passengers from Nice to Lille was also trapped by rising waters as the floods took hold.
The SNCF has now cancelled all services between the coastal towns of Toulon and Saint-Raphael until Thursday, saying three kilometres (2m) of tracks are completely flooded.
"This morning, we woke up to find a city that was devastated, extremely battered with overturned cars floating in the streets, collapsed roads and gutted houses," said Corinne Orzechowski who is heading the emergency operation."
President Nicolas Sarkozy issued a statement offering his condolences to the victims' families and support for rescue teams who are "mobilising non-stop to provide aid and find those still missing."
Water levels in Draguignan have dropped slightly but heavy rains are still battering the towns of Roquebrune and Frejus, not far from the Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez.
Floodwater washed cars and trees away in Draguignan
Gushing water turned streets into rivers and swept up trees and cars sending residents scurrying to safety on rooftops.
The drama happened in the town of Draguignan about an hour west of Cannes, where the annual film festival is held.
Rescuers scrambled overnight to help hundreds of people trapped in their vehicles and houses while helicopters were sent in to airlift residents to safety.
Floodwaters reached more than six feet in some areas as 12 inches of rain fell in as many hours.
Regional officials reported that 1,200 people had spent the night in shelters and up to 200,000 homes were without electricity.
"We haven't seen anything like this in a decade," said Var department representative Hugues Parant.
Locals are assessing damage now that the water is beginning to subside
A high-speed train carrying 300 passengers from Nice to Lille was also trapped by rising waters as the floods took hold.
The SNCF has now cancelled all services between the coastal towns of Toulon and Saint-Raphael until Thursday, saying three kilometres (2m) of tracks are completely flooded.
"This morning, we woke up to find a city that was devastated, extremely battered with overturned cars floating in the streets, collapsed roads and gutted houses," said Corinne Orzechowski who is heading the emergency operation."
President Nicolas Sarkozy issued a statement offering his condolences to the victims' families and support for rescue teams who are "mobilising non-stop to provide aid and find those still missing."
Water levels in Draguignan have dropped slightly but heavy rains are still battering the towns of Roquebrune and Frejus, not far from the Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez.