Marseille Faces Severe Flooding Following Heavy Rainfall
Marseille has been hit by heavy rainfall, leading to significant flooding across the city, particularly affecting the Old Port and surrounding areas. The deluge began late Monday night and continued into Tuesday morning, resulting in rivers flowing through the streets and numerous cars submerged under water. Meteorologists reported that Longchamp station recorded 48.5 mm of rain within just one hour, with total accumulations reaching 70 mm, equivalent to more than a month’s worth of precipitation.
As the storm caused disruptions, Mayor Benoît Payan urged residents to exercise caution while traveling. He confirmed that all city agents and marine firefighters were actively working to restore normalcy. The flooding resulted in water seeping into the metro system and significant traffic jams across the city, with reports of over 700 emergency calls made to firefighters in a two-hour span.
The situation was exacerbated by a Cévennes episode, which had been predicted by Météo France, leading to orange alerts for several departments due to anticipated rain and flooding. Although the rain subsided after 9 a.m., damage was already evident, with flooded buildings and roads reported in various districts. Mayor Sylvain Souvestre criticized the municipality for inadequate preparations, highlighting the impact on local schools.
Other areas in the Bouches-du-Rhône region, including Vitrolles, Cabries, and Trets, also experienced severe flooding, with Trets recording over 100 mm of rain in less than three hours. Neighboring regions, such as Gard, faced overflowing rivers and closed bridges, while schools in Alpes-Maritimes were shut down due to the heavy rainfall forecast. The disturbance is expected to shift eastward, with alerts remaining in place for several departments until midnight.
