A man in his sixties has been found dead after his vehicle was swept away by torrential rains that struck Haute-Corse on Tuesday, as the island endured precipitation levels never before recorded in France or Corsica.
The prefecture announced the discovery on Wednesday, confirming that the victim had been trapped in his 4×4 when the Fium’Orbu river burst its banks at Ghisonaccia. According to local reports, he was found dead beneath his vehicle on Tuesday evening. A second passenger in the car managed to escape through a window and survived unharmed.
Unprecedented Rainfall Totals
Meteorological records were shattered in several communes, most notably at Solenzara on the island’s east coast. Météo-France reported that nearly 600mm of rain fell over the course of the day, including 538.5mm within six hours — a figure described as “unprecedented in mainland France and Corsica.” A further 196.2mm fell in a single hour, equivalent to a month and a half of normal precipitation and itself a new record.
“This event is rewriting the climatology of extreme rainfall in France, particularly the records for accumulation in one and two hours,” meteorologist François Jobard wrote on social media.
Evacuations and Emergency Alerts
Haute-Corse was placed under red “rain-flood” alert — the highest warning level — between noon and 8pm on Tuesday. Residents in the north of the island received emergency alerts on their mobile phones, and warning sirens sounded in Bastia, Biguglia and Furiani.
“This is the first time I’ve received such an alert message and heard the siren for something other than the monthly drill,” said Robert, 53, who confined himself to his home.
In Prunelli di Fium’Orbu, Mayor André Rocchi reported that 21 residents of a care home had been evacuated, describing it as “the largest flood the commune has ever experienced.” He added: “An entire housing estate is completely underwater — there are two metres of water inside the houses.”
Damage Across Southern France
The severe weather also caused significant damage on the mainland. In Bouches-du-Rhône, a 75-year-old man was swept away by floodwater and later found dead in Istres, according to the prefecture. Heavy rains triggered major flooding of several rivers from Hérault to Bouches-du-Rhône overnight Monday to Tuesday, requiring dozens of people to be moved to safety.
Such Mediterranean episodes are becoming increasingly frequent as a result of climate change. Hérault and Gard had already been placed under red alert on 30 September after hours of intense rainfall.
