September 11, 2002	Wednesday	Rajab 3, 1423

NIMES (France), Sept 10: At least 21 people have been killed in flooding sparked by torrential rains in southeastern France, officials said on Tuesday, amid fears that the death toll could yet climb.

As water levels receded and weather conditions improved, emergency workers continued to search for at least 10 people still listed as missing.

Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who flew over the worst-hit areas to inspect the damage with Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, announced he would free up 10 million dollars in emergency aid to flood victims.

“I am here to show the nation’s solidarity with you,” Raffarin said. “I understand all the emotion and the anger.”

Sarkozy said the funds would be disbursed to local officials in the Gard, Herault and Vaucluse departments — an important wine-producing area and popular tourist destination — within 48 hours.

The prime minister said he would also request special aid for farmers, following storms that have battered crops, shut roads, cut phone and power lines and drinking water supplies, and forced people to flee their homes.

Rescue workers toiled through the night to pluck hundreds of stranded residents from rooftops.

Four people were found dead on Tuesday in Aramon, a village east of Nimes where a dike burst late on Monday. Certain areas of the village were still under two metres of water on Tuesday.

In the village of Rousson, north of Nimes, a father, his two-year-old son and six-year-old daughter tried to escape rising waters by climbing a tree, but were found drowned. The man’s wife survived.

A firefighter hurt while trying to save two people trapped in their car later died of his injuries. Another victim were struck by lightning.

Officials said that up to 600 millimetres of water fell within 24 hours in some areas — more than the average rainfall in six months.—AFP