Severe storms and torrential rainfall have caused widespread disruption and tragic loss of life on the French island of Corsica.
Record-breaking downpours with parts of the island recording extreme precipitation rates, such as over 400 mm of rain in just a few hours—triggered violent flash floods.
Tragically, the severe weather resulted in fatalities, including a man whose vehicle was swept away by swollen river currents in Ghisonaccia. Emergency services carried out numerous rescues, including helicopter operations to evacuate residents trapped by rising waters.
France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said a 40-year-old woman was rescued.
As reported by Reuters, one of the firefighters who had responded to the incident was taken to the hospital and was being treated for hypothermia, Nunez said.
French weather agency Meteo France has warned of flooding and heavy rain in Corsica and portions of southern France
Since the storm began on Wednesday afternoon, authorities have recorded as much as 350 mm (13.8 inches) of rainfall.
The heavy flooding severely impacted regional infrastructure, forcing the suspension of train services along key routes such as the Bastia-Corte line and leading to flight cancellations at Bastia airport.
The severe system was part of a broader, powerful Mediterranean storm front that also affected parts of southern France and neighboring region.
