French floods death toll rises further

The death toll from the worst flooding in southeastern France in more than 180 years has risen to 25.

Tuesday's torrential rain caused a series of mudslides through towns and villages in the Var department, inland from the Cote d'Azur, leaving scores of people housed temporarily in schools and other buildings after their homes were swamped.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said he would head a meeting of ministers to discuss urgent aid measures while President Nicolas Sarkozy plans to visit the area next week.

Emergency operations were halted and the Var's prefect, Hugues Parant, said the death toll might rise still further as floodwaters receded.

More than 350 mm of rain fell on the Var on Tuesday, more than in a typical six-month period.

Over 1,400 people were rescued by helicopter and about one hundred rescue missions were carried out by boat, while more than 2,000 people have been taken to shelter since Tuesday.

90,000 households still remain without electricity and phone lines were down in almost all the effected region.