Storms batter the south of France

Heavy rain pounded southwest France today with landslides destroying roads and homeowners barricading their homes against flooding.

Firefighters were dispatched 120 times to protect property and safeguard residents of Perpignan, near the Spanish border.

City authorities asked people to stay at home and schools in the Pyrenees-Orientales region were to remain closed on Saturday, a school day in France.

Perpignan recorded seven inches of rain today. Usually, the average for the entire month of October is only three inches.

French weather service Meteo France said heavy rain would continue until Saturday afternoon and warned people to secure belongings that could be damaged by flooding.