Pictures: Residents warned to stay home as severe flooding hits south of France

Authorities in the south of France are urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel after overnight torrential rain led to the evacuation of dozens of people from their homes. 

Four departments were still on high alert on Tuesday morning, as further rain forecast for Gard, and Var and Corsica may worsen flooding and impact travel in affected areas.

Storm Adam, which moved into France from Spain on Monday, brought particularly severe flooding to the south during the night.

Firefighters in Gard carried out 99 interventions overnight, bringing 41 people to safety. Almost 100 pompiers were deployed, supported by reinforcements from neighbouring departments.

Motorway flooded near Nîmes

The A9 motorway was closed in both directions between Nîmes and Montpellier after floodwater submerged sections of the carriageway during the early hours of the morning.

Motorists were caught by rapidly rising water near Bernis, while photographs and videos shared on social media showed vehicles stranded in flooded streets elsewhere in the department.

The motorway was partially reopen by Tuesday morning. 

Around 30 departmental roads and bridges were also closed in Gard on Tuesday morning.

The rain was particularly heavy in the area surrounding the Petite Camargue, centred on Aigues Mortes, with more than 200mm falling in less than 12 hours in some areas.

Heavy rain also fell across the Cévennes, with 189mm measured at Mont Aigoual, Gard.

In neighbouring Hérault, 23 people were accommodated at an emergency reception centre in Lunel.

Flooding also disrupted roads around Marseille, with sections of the A7, A8 and other major routes affected. Tram services were suspended on Tuesday morning.

‘Avoid non-essential travel’

Although the heaviest rain has passed over western Gard, authorities warn that swollen rivers could cause further flooding throughout Tuesday.

The Vidourle remains under orange flood alert, with a peak expected at Sommières during the afternoon. The Vistre and Rhôny are also expected to overflow onto already saturated plains.

In Var, the prefecture issued an FR-Alert warning to mobile phones, asking residents to postpone non-essential travel.

Conditions should gradually improve in Occitanie overnight, although heavy rain may persist in the Paca region and eastern Corsica into Wednesday morning.