Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

77-year-old driver dies trapped in flood in northern France

77-year-old driver dies trapped in flood in northern France | iNFOnews.ca
A woman takes photos of the flooded banks of the Seine river in Paris, France Saturday June 4, 2016. The level of the Seine started to drop after peaking earlier in the morning. Both the Louvre and Orsay museums were closed as officials said the Seine had been at its highest level in nearly 35 years. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

PARIS – A 77-year-old man has drowned in his car in northern France, trapped on a flooded roadway in a severe thunderstorm, the fifth victim of days of flooding around France.

Etienne Desplanques, from the administration of the Pas de Calais region, said on BFM-TV that the man died after taking a road inundated by quickly rising floodwaters that swept his car away. The death highlighted the severity of the storm, which required hundreds of interventions by rescue workers in the region.

At least 19 people have died in flooding across Europe.

In Paris and elsewhere, the French were digging out but watchful. The saturated ground means fresh rain can quickly spell more trouble.

The Seine river’s levels peaked Saturday in Paris but remain more than 3 metres (10 feet) above normal.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles