France NOW! Flood, Snow storm and Terrible winds! Cars and people are stuck

On March 8, 2024, Storm Monica swept across France, bringing heavy rains. In some southern regions, over 11.81 inches of precipitation fell within 48 hours. By March 9, this rainfall resulted in significant flooding in the departments of Gar, Ardeche, and Var.Show more

According to the local government in the Gar department, from the evening of March 9 to the early morning of March 10, six people went missing after being swept away by the floods.

In Dion, a car carrying two adults and two children aged 4 and 13 was washed away by the floodwaters of the Gardon River. Firefighters found the mother and transported her to a university hospital for medical assistance. The search for the car and three passengers is ongoing.

Firefighters are also searching for a car and two passengers swept away by flooding in the municipality of Goudargues.
According to the government of the Gar department, firefighters conducted 176 operations over several hours from the evening of March 9 to the early morning of March 10. Approximately 250 firefighters, including water rescuers, drones, and dog teams, were mobilized. Helicopters from the civil security service were also involved.

In the neighboring department of Ardeche, on March 9, a person went missing in the village of Saint-Martin-de-Valamas, presumed to be managing a hydroelectric power station.

In a statement on March 10, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said:
"Our fellow citizens in Gar and Ardeche are facing very strong flooding and bad weather. At the moment, at least 7 people, including two children, are missing. I share the pain and concerns of their families. The nation stands united with them. Our emergency forces, to whom I am sincerely grateful, are on the scene and mobilized. I am closely monitoring the situation."

Julien Marion, the CEO of the Civil Security and Crisis Management Directorate of France, announced that over 400 firefighters and four helicopters were deployed for search and rescue operations and to provide assistance to those affected by the flooding.

In Spain, Storm "Monica" brought heavy rain, snow, strong winds, and a powerful sea storm. From 10 a.m. on Saturday, most of the Andalusian region is under yellow and orange alert levels.

The storm led to road closures across the country. In Extremadura, highways CC-224, 437, and 242 were closed due to heavy snowfall on Saturday, despite the efforts of snowplows. In Andalusia, one of the most significant snowfalls in recent years occurred on the peaks of Sierra Nevada. However, the Sierra Nevada ski resort had to close due to strong winds with gusts reaching 90 kilometers per hour.

In Madrid and Segovia, 635 trucks got stuck in the snow, and their drivers had to abandon the vehicles. In Leon, the police had to clear the road of 30 trucks blocked by snow. Emergency services in Cadiz received over 30 calls due to strong winds and heavy rain.
Emergency service teams are actively searching for three missing individuals, including two minors in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and a third person in Barcelona.

In Europe, over the past few years, the number of storms, floods, and other natural disasters has been growing exponentially. That is, from a certain point, there has been a colossal progression of catastrophes in the region. To find out the reasons for such a sharp increase and how to stop the destructive climate disasters, you will learn at the "Global Crisis. The Responsibility" forum.