France and Italy NOW! Paralyzed by Storms Record Rains, Landslides, and a Rising Death Toll

Since October 16, France has been engulfed by a massive flood caused by a slow-moving storm.

The Ardèche-Seven region was particularly hard hit, receiving over twenty inches of rain in just one day. At the ski resort of Croix-de-Bozon, a shocking thirty-four inches of rain fell over three days, with twenty-five inches occurring in just one day.

Six departments, including Ardèche, have declared the highest red alert level. All schools in the region were closed, and more than nine hundred people were evacuated from dangerous areas.

For the first time in history, the center of the town of Annonay found itself underwater. All rivers in the affected regions overflowed their banks, with the level of the Ardèche River in Pont-d'Ussé surpassing the flood peak of 2003 by nearly two feet.

The floods triggered landslides and road closures, while the train route between Lyon and Saint-Étienne was cut off, and trains were canceled for several days. The storm also brought strong winds, with gusts reaching up to one hundred six miles per hour in some areas.

The cause of this powerful storm was the interaction of cold polar air with the Mediterranean atmosphere.

The storms also impacted Italy, where the regions of Liguria and Tuscany faced torrential rain and devastating floods. Schools in the affected areas were closed, and residents were advised to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel. Flooding and numerous landslides disrupted both rail and road transportation.

In Tuscany, one hour alone saw nearly four inches of rainfall. These extreme conditions led to the tragic death of a person swept away by the floodwaters.

The city of Siena was especially affected, with water flooding the train station and turning underpasses into raging rivers. Flooding damaged homes and businesses, leaving many vehicles trapped. Recovery efforts were hindered due to the immense volume of water.

In Liguria, rivers overflowed their banks, and roads were blocked by flooding and fallen trees.

The increasing frequency of flooding is destroying the daily lives of people and is increasingly leading to tragic loss of life. This occurs at a time when technologies already exist that can reduce the intensity of rainfall and minimize the impacts of flooding. Detailed information about these life-saving technologies can be found in the documentary "Water from the Air. The Path to Saving Humanity."