Two people have died and another was rescued after their vehicle was swept away by rising floodwaters in southern Corsica. The incident occurred on the morning of November 6th along Route Territoriale 10, between Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio, during a severe weather episode affecting the Mediterranean region. The Corsican prefecture confirmed the fatalities following the rescue operations conducted by emergency responders.
The victims were identified as a septuagenarian couple. They were trapped in the car driven by their daughter-in-law, a woman in her fifties, when the road was suddenly inundated. Emergency teams, including an underwater rescuer, managed to locate the submerged vehicle and extract the driver. She received medical attention from the department's fire and rescue service (Service d'incendie et de secours) and was subsequently evacuated by helicopter to the clinic in Porto-Vecchio.
Jean-Christophe Angelini, the mayor of Porto-Vecchio, provided details to France Info regarding the circumstances of the accident. He stated that the family was returning from the airport when they were caught by the rapid rise in water levels. The suddenness of the flood prevented the occupants from escaping the vehicle.
This tragedy is part of a broader 'Mediterranean episode' characterized by heavy rainfall and storms that have swept through the southeastern coast of France since Wednesday. According to Météo-France, significant precipitation has been recorded across the region. In eastern Corsica, specifically along an axis between Figari and southeast Corte, rainfalls have ranged from 150 to 250 millimeters since Wednesday afternoon. On elevated terrain, amounts have occasionally reached 300 to 350 mm.
Specific measurements taken by weather officials highlight the intensity of the storm. Conca recorded 283 mm of rain, while La Chiappa, located near Porto-Vecchio, saw 205 mm. Similarly, Figari received 157 mm. These extreme weather conditions have also caused significant flooding in the Hérault department and other areas of the Mediterranean arc.
Weather forecasts indicate that the danger persists but is beginning to shift. As of Friday morning, Météo-France maintained an orange alert for rain and flooding in eastern Corsica until noon. Meteorologists expect the rainfall bands to move east of the Rhône River throughout the afternoon, leading to a gradual decrease in precipitation and improved conditions in Corsica.
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