Flash floods in France kill at least 17 people
Four people were still missing on Monday after flash floods on the French Riviera killed at least 17 people over the weekend, prompting the government to declare a natural disaster in the southeastern tourist region.
Some 5,000 homes were still without electricity on Monday morning after as many as 70,000 suffered blackouts the previous evening.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, who visited the affected zone on Sunday with President Francois Hollande, told Europe 1 radio on Monday there had been some looting and nine people had been arrested.
"Police intervened very quickly to stop these despicable acts," he said.
Some 300 police and 543 fire officers were still carrying out search and rescue operations across areas affected by the floods, Cazeneuve said.
