At least 10 dead as heavy rains pelt southern France

At least 10 people have died and four were missing Wednesday after heavy rains lashed parts of southern France, French media reported.

All of the fatalities occurred in the south-eastern region of Var, where some 200,000 households were without electricity early Wednesday, DPA reported.

According to France Info radio, more than 400 people had to be rescued by helicopter from their homes. In addition, travellers were stranded in railway stations and roads were littered with abandoned automobiles due to the swiftly rising floodwaters.

As rain eased in the region Wednesday, the national weather service Meteo France issued an alert for heavy rain for areas in south-western France.