Storm Adam Claims Four Lives in Southern France Following Severe Flooding

At least four people have died and another person has been injured after Storm Adam caused severe flooding across southern France. The storm system triggered heavy rainfall on Tuesday, submerging streets, disrupting transportation, and forcing dozens of residents into emergency accommodations.

Casualties and Damage in France

The fatalities in France include an 86-year-old woman and a 26-year-old woman who drowned in a cellar in the Bouches-du-Rhône department. Severe weather also impacted Corsica, where floodwaters swept away a 4x4 vehicle on Tuesday. While one occupant managed to escape through a window, a male passenger was found dead. Officials have not yet released details regarding the fourth fatality.

In the towns of Mouriès and Saint-Martin-de-Crau, located between Montpellier and Marseille, emergency shelters were set up for dozens of displaced residents, with officials confirming one injury in the area. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot stated on X that local road networks and railway lines experienced significant disruptions. Jacques Witkowski, prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhône department, noted on Wednesday that water levels reached unprecedented heights and confirmed that emergency teams are mobilized at an exceptional level. The latest flooding follows a period of heavy rainfall that began in south-eastern France on October 19.

Impact in Spain and Approaching Weather

Prior to reaching France, Storm Adam impacted eastern Spain, causing at least three deaths. Several coastal Mediterranean towns were isolated by floodwaters, requiring helicopter evacuations for individuals trapped on rooftops. Military Emergencies Unit personnel recovered a woman's body in Oliva, Valencia, on Monday. Two other female victims were confirmed dead over the weekend, including one found on a beach in Sagunto and another swept away in Cabrera de Mar, near Barcelona. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pledged national government support for reconstruction, while the Valencian regional government approved a €23.5 million (£20 million) assistance package.

France is preparing for further severe weather as Storm Austen moves in from the Atlantic toward the north-west. National weather agency Météo-France issued an orange-level wind warning for Thursday evening into Friday covering five western departments: Côtes-d'Armor, Finistère, Morbihan, Ille-et-Vilaine, and Manche.