An unexpectedly heavy storm swept through the Riviera on the morning of Monday 23rd September, washing away cars and leaving streets submerged in floodwaters. Cannes experienced the worst of the rainfall, leading the city’s mayor to lament the lack of warning from forecasters.

As morning broke on the Côte d’Azur on Monday 23rd September, so did the rainclouds. Heavy rain and thunderstorms lashed much of the region, but the city of Cannes was by far the most affected.

Large parts of the city centre République neighbourhood were flooded, the streets and shops submerged in muddy floodwaters, and in videos shared widely on social media, vehicles and bins could be seen floating along roads that had been turned into rivers.

City authorities reacted quickly, closing off Cannes’ lowest-lying zones and activating a system of pumps to help alleviate the rising waters, but the city’s longtime mayor, David Lisnard, has admitted that some areas are still impassable.

“There was no prior warning, neither from the Prefecture nor from weather agencies,” he shared on social media. “The weather models… Météo France, Predict, Arome… had not anticipated this phenomenon. I am waiting for explanations from the organisations and services responsible for weather forecasting, and lessons will need to be learned from this situation with the State services.”

A crisis centre has been opened for the people of Cannes. Those in need of support can contact 0489822416 or 0489822417. People wishing to volunteer can get in touch with the centre via 0497064165 or 0497064632.

Meanwhile, those with questions relating to insurance coverage are encouraged to contact 0497064193.

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Photo source: David Lisnard, Facebook