French floods toll hits 20

The death toll after flash floods in the hills above the French Riviera has risen to 20, regional officials said today.

A jail and nursing home have also been evacuated as the rain continued overnight, according to the regional administration for the Var region.

Rescuers who have been saving the stranded are now focusing on cleaning up the debris. Wednesday’s floods swept away cars, trees and parts of houses in the picturesque hills behind a portion of the Riviera.

The administration said in a statement that 20 people had died and that a dozen people reported missing on Wednesday had been found.

The prison and nursing home in the town of Draguignan were evacuated overnight.