Violent thunderstorms cause an unprecedented flood in 70 years in Maurienne
Violent thunderstorms following the heat wave caused a torrent of the Alpine Valley of Maurienne, leading to major damage to Modane and its surroundings, on the border with Italy, announced the prefecture of Savoy. No victim is to be deplored, specifies his press release.
At the end of the afternoon, after “Important thunderstorms following the hot weather in recent days”, “The Torrent du Charmaix”a river gaining its source in the high mountains to throw itself into the bow, “Going into flood (…) causing localized floods”explained the prefecture in the evening. “This is the most important flood in 70 years”according to the press release. The Charmaix frequently swells according to mountain thunderstorms.
Water and mud have invaded streets of Modane and the village bordering stoves, up to 50 cm high in certain areas, interrupting rail traffic between France and Italy in particular “In both directions until further notice”according to the text. Departmental roads have also been cut in Modane and its surroundings, an important city in road transit between the two countries.
“Fifteen people were safe in the village hall” De Fourneaux and Modane by the firefighters, adds the prefecture which speaks of around fifty flooded cellars. The stove school was partially flooded.
About twenty kilometers further south, in the Hautes-Alpes near the Italian border too, the firefighters reported large thunderstorms that overflowed rivers, in particular the Durance.
In Drôme and Ardèche, violent thunderstorms deprived some 5,000 households in early evening and caused numerous firefighters interventions for flooded dwellings, snatched roofs and roads barring the roads, reports the daily The Dauphiné liberated.
