In brief
A severe weather system known as Storm Adam unleashed unprecedented flooding across southern France on Tuesday, sinking streets and communities. Four people have died, including two older women and a young mother, as water surged into homes and flooded streets in the Bouches‑du‑Rhône region. The crisis also hit Corsica, where a 4×4 vehicle vanished under torrent waters, and the towns of Mouriès and Saint‑Martin‑de‑Crau, forcing dozens into emergency shelters. Transport routes were disrupted, prompting a ministerial warning and a prefect’s call for coordinated emergency efforts. With more storms on the horizon, France’s meteorological office has issued orange‑level wind warnings for several western departments, underscoring the escalating threat of extreme weather.
At least four people died in France and one was injured after Storm Adam produced cataclysmic flooding across the south‑east.
The onslaught, beginning on Tuesday, saw water rise to unprecedented levels in the Bouches‑du‑Rhône department. Two women, one 86 and the other 26, were found drowned inside the cellar of a home. A fourth victim was swept away by floodwater. Details of his death remain unconfirmed at this time.
Corsica was not spared. Local reports describe a 4×4 vehicle carried under the force of the water, with one occupant escaping through a window while another did not survive. Authorities on the island have released no further information.
In the towns of Mouriès and Saint‑Martin‑de‑Crau, lying between Montpellier and Marseille, emergency shelters were quickly set up to house residents displaced by the deluge. One person was reported injured in the area, and roads and rail links were temporarily disrupted—an issue highlighted by Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot in a recent X post.
Prefect Jacques Witkowski described the water’s rise as “unprecedented” and reaffirmed that emergency services were operating at an “exceptional level” to aid those in distress.
The severity of the regional weather has escalated further, with Storm Austen, a new Atlantic‑borne system, set to bring additional heavy rainfall to France’s north‑west. Météo‑France has issued an orange‑level wind warning for five western departments—including Côtes‑d’Armor, Finistère, Morbihan, Ille‑et‑Vilaine, and Manche—effective from Thursday evening into Friday.
Storm Adam’s fury extended beyond France. The eastern Spanish city of Valencia suffered similar ferocity, claiming at least three lives and leaving several coastal towns isolated beneath swollen waters. The Spanish government pledged aid and promised reconstruction resources amid ongoing rescue operations.
