Five people have died in a flash flood in southern France following torrential rain on 17 and 18 September 2014. Hundreds of people in the area have been affected, and it is forecast that the rain will continue for several more days.

Powerful storms are currently affecting the Herault, Gard and Aveyron areas, which are located on and near the Mediterranean coast of France. Heavy rain from the storms quickly caused a river in Lamalou-les-Bains to flood, leaving residents in the area with little to no warning of the surging flood waters.

Of the five people killed so far, four were caught when flood water and debris from the river swept through their campsite in Herault, and the fifth person fell into a separate river in Arnac which was also affected by the storms.

Rescue workers in the region, including firefighters and police, are working to help the victims and provide support. An orange alert has been issued for more rain on 19 September, however, which weather forecasters predict may bring more floods.