Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Rain storms kills 9 in France, several missing

MARSEILLE, France, June 16 (Reuters) - At least nine people died and several were missing following violent rain storms near France’s Mediterranean coast, local officials said on Wednesday.

Most of the deaths occurred in or around the town of Draguignan, which was hit by flash floods on Tuesday, a spokesman for the local Var region said.

More than 350 mm (14 inches) of rain fell on the Var in just a few hours, triggering violent flooding.

French television showed some streets in the region clogged with overturned cars that had been swept away by the ragging waters. Government ministers were expected to tour the flood zones later in the day.