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 and storms led to the evacuation of dozens of people from their homes, with one person found dead in Bouches-du-Rhone.

Haute-Corse was placed on the highest (red) level of alert by state forecaster Météo-France on October 20 as exceptionally heavy rain moved east towards Corsica.

Gard remained under orange alert for river flooding, while Corse-du-Sud and several other departments were also subject to heightened warnings.

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

More than 3,400 lightning strikes were recorded in Haute-Corse between 06:00 and 12:00 on Tuesday.

One person was found dead following flooding at Saint-Mitre-les-Remparts in Bouches-du-Rhône, having earlier been reported missing, according to ICI Provence and Radio France. The circumstances surrounding the death remain unclear.

Firefighters in Gard carried out 99 interventions overnight, bringing 41 people to safety. Almost 100 firefighters 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 Tuesday.

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 partially reopened on Tuesday morning, although disruption continued.

Around 30 departmental roads and bridges were also closed in Gard earlier in the day.

Rain was particularly heavy around the Petite Camargue, near 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.

Météo-France recorded 235mm of rain at Saint-Chamas, in Bouches-du-Rhône, during the episode.

‘Avoid non-essential travel’

Although the heaviest rain has passed over western Gard, authorities have warned that swollen rivers could cause further flooding.

The Vidourle was placed under orange flood alert, with high water levels expected around Sommières. The Vistre and Rhôny also threatened flooding across already saturated plains.

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

The storm has meanwhile intensified over Corsica, where exceptional rainfall has been recorded.

Météo-France reported 350mm in six hours in Haute-Corse, including 189mm in a single hour.

The episode is a Mediterranean weather event, caused by warm, moisture-laden air moving inland from the sea and producing intense rainfall, particularly where it encounters higher ground.

Conditions are expected to ease gradually in western areas, although flooding remains a concern and further heavy rain is possible in eastern Corsica into Wednesday.