100 rescued as floods hit Montpellier area

More than 100 people were brought to safety overnight after severe storms flooded roads around Montpellier. A 73-year-old woman who was reported missing during the night was found on Sunday morning. 

The woman who went missing near Candillargues, to the east of Montpellier, was found on the roof of her car next to the étang by the airport, after emergency services had sent a helicopter to look for her.

The airport was inaccessible for part of the night.

Firefighters carried out 105 operations to bring people to safety during the night, mainly involving motorists trapped in their vehicles, reports local newspaper Midi Libre. Around 100 firefighters and 30 emergency vehicles, and a helicopter were deployed.

A total of 190mm of rain was recorded near Montpellier-Fréjorgues airport, including 153mm in three hours and 89mm in a single hour, according to state forecaster Météo-France.

Some drivers were caught by rising water as they left a concert at the nearby Zénith Sud arena. 

Several roads around Montpellier and neighbouring Lattes were also submerged, while the D66 towards Montpellier airport remained flooded on Sunday morning.

The latest episode comes after repeated heavy rainfall in the region.

Gard and Hérault experienced intense Mediterranean storms on November 5 and October 20, which caused flooding around Montpellier and left the ground saturated

More rain ahead

Further rain is forecast across France during the week of November 16-22, as a succession of Atlantic weather systems moves across the country, according to forecasts from Météo-France.

Western France, from Brittany to northern Aquitaine and the western Massif Central, is expected to receive particularly heavy rainfall, with further substantial accumulations possible in the Vosges, Jura and northern Alps. The Mediterranean coast is expected to remain relatively dry.