Death toll from French floods continues to rise

The death toll from the worst flooding in southeastern France in more than 180 years has risen to 25, local have authorities said.

Tuesday's torrential rain sent torrents of mud pouring through towns and villages in the Var department, inland from the Cote d'Azur, leaving scores of people housed temporarily in schools and other buildings after their homes were swamped.

Prime Minister Francois Fillon said he would head a meeting of ministers to discuss aid measures and President Nicolas Sarkozy plans to visit the area next week.

Emergency operations were halted and the Var's prefect, Hugues Parant, said the death toll might rise still further as floodwaters receded.

More than 350 mm (14 inches) of rain fell on the Var on Tuesday, more than in a typical six-month period.

Over 1,400 people were rescued by helicopter and about one hundred rescue missions were carried out by boat, while more than 2,000 people have been taken to shelter since Tuesday. About 90,000 households remain without electricity and phone lines were down for 15,000 residents.

In the town of Draguignan, the evacuation of 500 prisoners, as well as elderly care home residents and patients in a clinic, continued until late on Wednesday, local officials said. Schools and colleges were closed but centres were open for students taking high school exams.

According to the Meteo France weather service, the last floods of such magnitude occurred in 1827. In February, a fierce storm and tidal surge killed 53 people in southwestern France.