Languedoc and Gard are the target of a meteorological episode of great violence with in particular very heavy rains.
A woman is reported missing in the Gard, her car was washed away by the rising waters.
REPORTAGE
Torrential rains fell on Languedoc and a person is missing in the Gard, placed in red vigilance Saturday by Météo France which warns of a second wave at the end of the day.
"Exceptional accumulations are underway in the north-west of the Gard" and a "major flood" also underway on the Gardon d'Anduze, wrote in its bulletin early Saturday afternoon Météo-France.
The very heavy rains caused the disappearance of a person, still actively sought today.
This is a nurse surprised by the rising waters while she was driving her car, in Saint-André-de-Majencoules.
The episode is exceptionally violent, as evidenced by the mayor of the town who comments on the accident: "There was a meter of water on the road, the car floated and left in the current".
Helicopters stuck on the ground
Arrival of the flood at #Anduze in the #Gard like a wave
Video credit: @ MeteoLanguedocpic.twitter.com / ziv3asKjf2
- Weather Languedoc (@MeteoLanguedoc) September 19, 2020
In the morning, heavy rains led to the flooding of departmental roads and residents were invited to stay at home.
Two rescues were carried out by helicopter and three by land means, according to the firefighters of this department.
Some 200 people were brought to safety in the town of Valleraugue and as many in Saint-Jean-du Gard.
More than 300 firefighters are mobilized.
However, the weather conditions are deteriorating and the helicopters "can no longer fly", explained the mayor of Saint-André-de-Majencoules Christophe Boisson.
The search for the missing woman is currently interrupted "in the hope that they can resume before nightfall", explained the mayor of the town.
The Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin announced in a tweet on Saturday that he would visit this department on Sunday afternoon.