Weather: Orange Alert 31 departments, the death of the Basque Country

By Gaizka Iroz | AFP -

Heavy rains, floods in the early hours of the violent Basque country, where people died from the waters continue to rise in places on Friday as the 31 departments are caused placed on orange alert on chance.

Pyrénées-Atlantiques added to the list of interested agencies and 07.00 clock weather station in the area of Mauleon, Saint-Jean - France, a few hours after the onset of the floods, which can be taken from the population, particularly in the Basque Country likely surprised is -Pied-de-Port and Saint-Etienne-de-BAIGORRY.

Arhansus woman 84 years old, left his home before it was destroyed. His body was found shortly after 07.00 clock, according to the prefecture.

"We have been blocked since 6:00," testified Gaizka Iroz, AFP photographer who lives in the village of Itxassou embedded in a bend of the river Nive, a flood of the river. "He continues to rise," he said. "We have 92-year-old grandfather installed on the floor." "My brother is a water meter on the ground floor and the road is blocked." "This is my mother, who at six clock woke up the" Quick, the water rises quickly, we have to save the horses and dogs. "" For me, the water is again in a few minutes, "he added at 11:00 clock regretting not having a wind warning.

Water suddenly overflowed Arhansus von 04:00 bis 05:00 clock clock "people sought refuge in the mountains," said the police.

"The village is totally isolated from this morning is not available., We have to move very quickly to evacuate the camp, the siren rang at 7:00 clock this morning. Waters rose rapidly, I think I have not seen," said the mayor of Saint-Etienne-en-BAIGORRY hand, Jean-Michel Coscarat, contacted by telephone. "We need to caravans and 60 people camping and looking for alternative accommodation has been evacuated."

One night, he fell to the equivalent of a rain Basque country, where 3,000 homes were without power in the morning.

10.00 Clock About 240 firefighters were involved, and about 200 firefighters, backed by mobilizing teams of the country and Pyrenees and supported by hundreds of police officers, including brigade trains mountain and water.

Pyrenees Atlantiques Prefecture opened on Friday morning, "department operation cell" the rescue co-ordination, while many of the streets of the country cut off.

Subscribe department was rain in amber, defined as storms and floods to 07:00 clock. 10:00 clock and orange flood alert. Nive and season are orange alert and beyond.

Persistent heavy rain in the morning and 24 is expected to reach even 30 60mm locally 100 to 120 mm in the valleys of the Basque Country, according to the meteo-France. Significant improvement is expected in the afternoon.

In addition, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, 30 sections were placed in amber Subscribe rain Southeast Rhone-Alpes region of eastern France, and according to the latest bulletin meteo-France on Friday morning. Orange Alert is in force from 11:00 clock on Friday.

New sections followed all of Alsace and Franche-Comté and the Allier, Côte-d'Or, Haute-Marne, Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire, and Vosges.

Meteo-France have been put on alert, the divisions of the "rain" of the Ardeche, Aude, Aveyron, Bouches-du-Rhône, Cantal, Gard, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire, Haute-Loire, Lozère, Puy-de-Dome and Vaucluse Ain, Drôme, Isère, Rhone, Savoie and Haute-Savoie. On Friday morning, the orange alert "torrential rain" and Pyrénées Atlantiques.

L? Organ Sine prediction says that "violent storms can cause severe damage locally" and the avalanche of "strong gusty winds cells, intense electrical activity, high rainfall intensity and welcome."