At least three people have died in the south of France as violent storms hit the Var department today (May 20).  Two people died near Le Lavandou after the vehicle they were in was swept

away by torrential rain, with nearly 250mm falling in a few hours before midday around the commune. The elderly couple - born in 1939 - were 'surprised' by rapidly rising water

when they were out driving in their vehicle, reported Var public prosecutor Samuel Finielz Another person was reported dead in Vidauban, and several other people in the department are

missing according to the latest reports by departmental authorities. "Everything's flooded, the roads are cut off, areas near the beach have collapsed, the bridges are completely

south-west France yesterday (May 19), causing severe damage, flooding, and disrupting the regional rail network.  Firefighters in the south-west were called out to hundreds of homes

yesterday before storms moved eastwards overnight. Emergency services in the Var have already responded to dozens of callouts so far today. Some areas in the Var have seen record rain levels

for the month of May surpassed this morning alone. Water levels of the Môle river rose several metres this morning, stated official flooding website Vigicrues, with several roads nearby

flooded and off-limits to vehicles. The airport next to the river - that serves popular holiday destination Saint-Tropez - has been closed due to flooding. Early images show severe damage in

towns including Cavalière.  > ⛈️ À Cavalière dans le Var, l'orage cesse enfin après avoir > déversé plus de 150 mm de pluie ce mardi matin ! De nombreux > secteurs de la 

commune sont inondés. 🌊 (© François Mourgues) > pic.twitter.com/2XXoUUxgX3 > — Météo Express (@MeteoExpress) May 20, 2025 Several roads in the Var are flooded, making travelling

through the department difficult. More than 500 homes are without electricity, and 300 without running water. Parks and other public locations in Nice and Cannes, in the neighbouring

Alpes-Maritimes department, have been closed due to the storms.  The rail network in the south-west remains severely disrupted today, and several schools in the area have been closed.  Local

mayors in the south-west are calling for natural disaster zones to be declared by the government to help with insurance claims for damaged homes. HAIL AND FLOODS HIT SOUTH-WEST HARD

Yesterday’s storms were accompanied by torrential rain and powerful hail measuring up to 7cm in diameter. Toulouse and the surrounding suburbs were in particular affected.  > ⛈️ Un orage 

supercellulaire produit de fortes chutes de grêle > dans le département du Tarn, ici sur la commune de Puylaurens. (© > Isabelle Stefani) pic.twitter.com/AvpH83SONg > — Météo 

Express (@MeteoExpress) May 19, 2025 A school in the outskirts of Toulouse was damaged by the hail and in rural areas it caused widespread damage to farms. > Je voudrais avoir une pensée 

pour les agriculteurs très fortement > impactés par les nombreux orages de grêle pour les productions > agricoles plus que jamais les aléas nous bousculent nous devons > tout faire 

pour protéger et avoir des systèmes plus résiliants et > protecteurs. pic.twitter.com/uiV8yvjACz > — Jérôme Despey (@JeromeDespey) May 19, 2025 Communes in the Tarn department

including Lautrec and Puylaurens were affected by flooding, as excess rain caused water to gush through streets.  Areas of the Tarn-et-Garonne were also impacted, as was Tonneins in the

Lot-et-Garonne. > ⛈️ Des inondations sont signalées dans le Tarn-et-Garonne, > suite aux pluies diluviennes sous orages, ici à Montech. (© Thomas > Defrennes) 

pic.twitter.com/9UXBIvEuyn > — Météo Express (@MeteoExpress) May 19, 2025 > ⛈️ Des inondations sont observées dans le secteur de Tonneins > dans le Lot-et-Garonne, suite aux pluies 

diluviennes sous orage. (© > Radio 4) pic.twitter.com/h3fzDca6hi > — Météo Express (@MeteoExpress) May 19, 2025 The flooding has led to tier-two yellow warnings over rising river

levels, however no severe alerts (tier-three or above) are currently in place, and it is unlikely river levels will continue to rise now rain has mostly subsided. . TRAINS STUCK OVERNIGHT,

TGV PASSENGERS EVACUATED  The flooding also disrupted rail connections in the south, with several local services cancelled due to the conditions.  Some of these services, particularly around

Toulouse, are cancelled today (Tuesday May 20), so if you are planning to travel check journey schedules in advance through the SNCF Connect website or local alternative.  High-speed (TGV)

connections from Toulouse to Paris are also set to face disruptions for a number of days – on Tuesday all direct high-speed services are cancelled, with passengers needing to travel via

Montpellier or via ‘Intercités’ trains. Connections between Bordeaux and Toulouse are expected to be disrupted for several days, as are local services around Agen. A TGV with over 500

passengers on board was blocked near Tonneins (roughly equidistant between Toulouse and Bordeaux) after heavy rain forced it to stop last night. Passengers were stuck for over three hours

before they were evacuated and spent the night at emergency accommodation in the commune due to damage on the tracks.  The train remains stuck in place, local media reports, due to severe

damage on the tracks.  “It is a miracle the train didn't break up… it is also a miracle there were no casualties,” said firefighters at the scene (quoted in local media Actu). The

driver reacted quickly after spotting damage on the tracks, dropping the train’s speed down to 30 km/h. Another train scheduled between Paris and Toulouse was stopped near Agen due to the

rain, with passengers stuck in the train overnight according to an AFP journalist who was travelling on the route.