Floods kill at least 10 near Carcassonne

Severe flooding caused devastation in parts of south-western France on Sunday night with at least 10 people dead. The town of Carcassonne was on alert as water levels continued to rise. Heavy storms swamped parts of southwestern France, flooding rivers and cutting off roads, officials said Monday.

The French government says that more rain fell in three hours than usually falls in three months. The Aude department, which includes the city of Carcassonne, was particularly badly hit. One woman was swept to her death by rising waters in the village of Villardonnel, and at least four died overnight in Villegailhenc, local authorities reported. The Aude river reached flood levels not seen in over 100 years, according to the French agency responsible for monitoring water levels, Vigicrues. In the nearby town of Conques-sur-Orbiel, the river rose by more than six metres.