Torrential rain which has fallen in the space of a few hours has caused flash floods in Southern France – the worst-hit areas are Gard, Ardeche and Drome.
A rescue effort is currently underway involves more than 400 firefighters and police as well as four helicopters 700 rescers and helicopters. A 70-year-old German man who was helping to supervise children at one of the summer camps has been reported as missing and some 1600 people have been evacuated – most of them from camping sites.
The storms have followed a heatwave with unusually hot weather in southern France and much of Europe.
Six departments have been placed on flood alert, while about 17,000 homes were without power in the south-west and north-east, according to a statement issued by the French interior ministry.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
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