Storm death toll rises in France as hunters find body of man in south

The body of a man was found yesterday evening (March 12) in the Ardèche department, three days after a hydroelectric plant worker went missing in the area.

It was discovered by hunters and relatives of the 73-year old who disappeared on Saturday evening during flash flooding.

The body was found close to a micropower station along the Eyrieux river, where the man was working during Saturday evening’s storms.

Authorities believe it is most probably the body of the missing man, however rescue workers and police forces were unable to reach the location of the body last night but planned to make a fresh attempt this morning.

It now brings the death toll from the weekend’s storms and high waves to seven – six in the south of France and one in the west.

All of those in the south were either driving or in a car at the time of the accident, with at least two driving across ponts submersibles, bridges with no parapets.

They allow for flooded rivers to flow with less obstructions, reducing the time it takes for them to return to average levels, however they can be more dangerous.

Two departments still remain on heightened alert for river flooding: Gironde and Charente-Maritime.

Search continues for missing boy

Rescuers in the Gard confirmed the bodies of two individuals – a girl, 4, and a 41-year old man – were from the family that went missing on Saturday evening.

Read more: Body of girl, 4, found after storms in south of France

A boy, 12, who was also in the car with them when it was swept away by strong river currents, is yet to be found.

Rescuers will continue to search for him today.

The mother of the dead father said she may take legal action against local authorities over the circumstances of the deaths.

The car containing the four family members – the mother was able to climb atop the roof and escape – was swept away when crossing a pont submersible, a bridge with no parapets.

“My son would never have gone over that bridge with his two children on board and his partner if it had been closed,” said the man’s mother Christine to BFMTV.

In her opinion, the bridge should have been signalled as closed – either through a road sign or barrier – due to the river levels.

Read more: Storms in France: what to do if at home, out walking or in car

Rain to return this weekend?

Alongside the two departments facing heightened warnings, around half of all other departments are facing tier-two yellow warnings, for high river levels or avalanche risk.

Water levels in the areas concerned are reducing, however clouds and rain are set to return to the west and north of France over the weekend.

The rain is not set to be as strong as that seen during last weekend’s storms, however enough may fall to see river levels remain at current levels.

There should be little to no rainfall in the Gard, Hérault, and Ardèche departments over the weekend. This is the three southern departments where bodies have been found this week.

You can keep up to date with all weather warnings through the official Météo France website, and river levels via the official Vigicrues website.

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