Residents were taken by surprise by the exceptionally violent downpour. They described the flood as “apocalyptic.” Many of the victims had been caught in their cars in tunnels and underground car parks as the flood waters rose. The main motorway through the area has been closed, trains halted and hundreds of tourists sought shelter at Nice airport overnight. A football match between Nice and Nantes had to be abandoned owing to torrential rain. French President Francois Hollande visited the area and promised to speed up relief payments to help cover the damage. He announced a state of “natural disaster” in the affected region. He expressed condolences to families of victims and urged residents to remain cautious, especially on the region’s roads. At the same time he asked the “solidarity of the nation.”
