Four die as storms and floods hit Normandy

Violent storms and flash flooding in the northwestern region of Normandy killed four people, police said yesterday. Emmanuelle Farin, 28, and her two children - three-year-old Edouard and Charlotte, six - were killed on Monday night by a mudslide as they climbed into their car to escape rising water in the village of La Vaupaliere. And a man died in a car accident caused by heavy rain in the nearby regional centre of Rouen.

Authorities on Tuesday declared a disaster area comprising three villages near Rouen, around 150 kilometres (90 miles) northwest of Paris.

Major highways remained cut off by floods yesterday, with more storms predicted. According to police, 20,000 people in the area had their water cut off due to storm damage. AP -Paris