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At least 16 people killed in storm, flooding in southeast France

Xinhua, October 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

At least 16 people were killed with three still missing as a strong storm hit southeast France Saturday night, President Francois Hollande said Sunday.

According to a latest official update of the death toll, Hollande confirmed that 16 people were killed by the violent storm and sequent flooding, adding that "the state of natural catastrophe will be declared on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers."

Hollande, accompanied by Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, also said that "the assessment of the intensity (of the disaster) is not complete yet."

The storm and flooding hit southeast France Saturday night, with a three-hour heavy rain reported at 180 mm in Cannes and at 160 mm in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, causing power failure of more than 35,000 households.

About 450 rescuers and three helicopters have arrived at the site to search for survivors in areas which are difficult to reach, it added. Endi