Paris - At least five people were killed in flash floods in the southwestern Aude area of France after several months worth of rain fell in just a few hours overnight, the local government prefect said on Monday.
Rescue helicopters were waiting for clearer weather before they could launch rescue operations, the prefect of Aude, Alain Thirion, told BFM TV.
"We have people stranded on rooftops. We're going to have to use aircraft to evacuate them because we cannot reach them by boat given the force of the water. It's too dangerous," he said.
Among the worst hit areas were the villages of Conques-sur-Orbiel and Villardonnel, where waters rose as high as the first-floor windows of some houses.
BREAKING! Major floods in Aude deprtment, sothern France! At least 3 fatalities reported. Source: Weather Monitoring Aude 11 in conques-Sur-Pinna / Agate Météo pic.twitter.com/IzEZib17qK
— severe-weather.EU (@severeweatherEU) October 15, 2018
The flash floods struck without warning. At least one victim was swept away by raging waters while sleeping, Thirion said.
Red alert in France for the River #Aude
Heavy rainfall (> 200 mm) in a couple of hours and risks of floods #Inondation #Leslie pic.twitter.com/08xhxbq3qU
— Guillaume Thirel (@G_Thirel) October 15, 2018
Water levels were expected to continue to rise in the area on Monday, with rain forecast until late in the morning. Schools in the Aude area were closed and residents were told to stay at home.
Torrential rains are not uncommon in France at this time of year, but meteorologists have said that exceptionally warm sea water along the Mediterranean coast of southern France may be intensifying the rains.
The year so far is France's hottest since 1900, according to the state meteorological service.