Shops looted after floods

NINE people have been questioned by police in connection with looting shops damaged by this weekend’s floods.

The reports came as a better side to human nature was seen in spontaneous acts of generosity by locals donating clothes to help.

Two people were set to be brought before the courts over looting and seven were still in police custody, said Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve on Europe 1 radio this morning.

The mayor of Cannes gave the alert that people were stealing in supermarkets damaged by the floods. They were mainly thought to be looking for alcohol.

Mr Cazeneuve said on Europe 1 that people who had looted were “unscrupulous delinquents who would stop at nothing”.

It came as local paper Nice-Matin provided details of how people have been helping and what those in the area can do.

One organiser at the Réserve Citoyenne et Civile de Nice, which is collecting donated items to help victims, said: “People spontaneously came to donate bags of clothes and they just kept coming – we’ve already got a lot of clothes.

“We especially need warm boys’ clothes and food items, such as tins, that won’t go off. Also quilts, sheets, towels and sleeping bags – we’ve already had a lot of sleeping bags, which is great.”

• In Nice, clothes can be donated at the Réserve Citoyenne et Civile (RCC) de Nice at 23 Blvd de Riquier (8.30 – 12.00 and 13.00-17.00 all week) or at the Nice-Matin offices at 214 Blvd du Mercantour or at Radio Emotion, 15 Blvd Victor-Hugo. The RCC is also looking for volunteers.

• In Biot, people looking to help can go to the Salle des Associations, near the main mairie building, on 8-10 route de Valbonne.

• In Juan-les-Pins they are collecting clothes and food at the Casino-Palais des Congrès supermarket.

• Branches of charity Secours Populaire are also asking for donations to help victims.

Photo: Screen shot from Nice-Matin video showing donated clothes