France storms batter nation’s southwest obliterating motorways and bridges

Staff writers
The Nightly
A resident stands on a broken bridge in Cette-Eygun in France’s south-west after flooding caused by the waters of the Gave d'Aspe following heavy rain.
A resident stands on a broken bridge in Cette-Eygun in France’s south-west after flooding caused by the waters of the Gave d'Aspe following heavy rain. Credit: GAIZKA IROZ/AFP

Heavy rain has smashed France, collapsing roads across the country’s south with weather alerts in a number of areas.

In one of the worst landslips a 50 metre wide by 50m deep chasm opened up across the RN134 motorway near the village of Urdos in the country’s south-east following consecutive days of torrential rain.

It’s believed to have caused blackouts for about 300 people in the remote community.

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“The situation has not yet stabilised in these four communes,” the Pyrenees Antlantiques prefecture announced. “The safety and rescue services are continuing their reconaissance work.”

In the south-west, there was also widespread damage, including a bridge which was taken out in Cette-Eygun caused by the rampaging waters of the Gave d’Aspe river, pictured above.

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