In brief
Storm Adam brought record‑level rainfall to southern France, flooding streets, disrupting transport and claiming four lives, including two women who drowned in a cellar. The Bouches‑du‑Rhone region was hardest hit, with emergency shelters opened and officials mobilised at an exceptional level. Corsica also suffered a fatality when a vehicle was swept away in floodwaters. Meanwhile, French authorities warned of further severe weather with Storm Austen approaching the north‑west, and Spanish officials confirmed additional casualties in the Mediterranean coast. The disaster underscores growing climate‑related risks across Western Europe.
Heavy rainfall triggered by Storm Adam inundated streets in southern France on Tuesday, killing at least four people and disrupting roads and rail transport. Two 86‑year‑old and 26‑year‑old women were found drowned in a cellar in the Bouches‑du‑Rhone department, while a third victim was taken to a hospital after being rescued from a flooded vehicle on Corsica.
Emergency shelters opened in the towns of Mouriès and Saint‑Martin‑de‑Crau, where dozens of residents were housed after the floodwaters rose to unprecedented levels. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot tweeted that roads and train lines were severely disrupted, and prefect Jacques Witkowski expressed a “thought for all those in distress” as authorities mobilised at an extraordinary level.
The storm has also caused casualties in Spain. Early on Saturday, firefighters and military units located a drowned woman in Oliva, Valencia, and a helicopter rescue operation throughout the Mediterranean coast saved several residents stuck on rooftops. Spanish Premier Pedro Sanchez announced a reconstruction aid package of €23.5 million for the Valencia region.
Meteo France has issued an orange‑level wind warning for five western departments, as Storm Austen is expected to move north‑west early Thursday. These successive weather systems illustrate the growing threat of intense rainfall events across North Africa and Europe in 2026.
Key Takeaways:
- At least four dead, one injured in France after Storm Adam flooding.
- Emergency protocols activated in Mouriès and Saint‑Martin‑de‑Crau.
- Corsica and Spain also reported fatalities and widespread damage.
- Storm Austen threatens the north‑west of France with high winds.
- Governments pledged financial aid and reconstruction resources.
