11 killed in flash floods in France

At least 11 people have been killed and two are missing after flash floods caused by powerful rainstorms in south-east France, regional officials said today.

Unusually heavy rain in the Var region has transformed streets into muddy rivers that swept up trees, cars and other objects. Floodwaters in the city of Draguignan were about 6.5 feet high.

A regional official told France-Info radio that 1,200 people had spent the night in shelters.

Tens of thousands of people are without electricity, and some schools in the region are closed.

President Nicolas Sarkozy sent condolences to the region's residents and thanked the emergency response personnel.