Is France Safe for Travel After the "Truly Violent" Floods and Storms?

The south of France has experienced a succession of heavy rainfall events floods which have resulted in at least three fatalities.

The catastrophe has been compared to 'wartime scenes' by the mayor of the renowned coastal town, Le Lavandou, where an older couple lost their lives.

'It was an utterly violent, unpleasant, and baffling occurrence,' stated Gil Bernardi.

Flooding has led to extensive damage across the Var area, encompassing portions of the French Riviera such as Saint-Tropez and parts of the Côte d'Azur.

Residents are currently lacking both water and power, along with La Mole St Tropez. Airport has also been closed.

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In the town of Vidauban, which lies on the banks of the river Argen, another women also died when her vehicle was submerged by water.

Writing on X, French President, Emmanuel Macron expressed his 'sincere sympathies' to the victims and their relatives.

He stated: "To everyone impacted, I want to assure you that the nation will stand by you, showing brotherhood and unity. Present alongside the aid teams, we will navigate through the upcoming hours. Here to help in reconstruction."

Travel advice for France

The UK Foreign Office has not currently issued any new travel warnings for France after the flooding.

But, like with any country, the Foreign Office advises British nationals to stay vigilant when abroad.

The website alerts travelers about 'the potential for flooding in parts of France' and recommends checking whether their lodging is close to a waterway.

They similarly suggest visitors to verify France’s flash food watch Website (or 'vigicrues' in French) for more recent details on current flooding hazards.

What actions should you take if you find yourself in a flooding situation overseas?

Prior to or during a flood, the UK government advises turning off your gas, electric, and water supplies, provided it is safe to do so.

They similarly suggest relocating to elevated areas, and utilizing flood defense items if they're accessible to you. Additionally, it’s advised to heed the guidance of local authorities or emergency responders.

According to the FCDO, British travelers must ensure their own safety when overseas and they clarify 'there isn’t an overall duty of care towards Britons living abroad'.

Nonetheless, the FCDO might establish a particular mechanism to aid British citizens during an emergency overseas, including incidents like floods. Such support may involve setting up a specialized helpline or an online sign-up where you can request help.

Am I able to receive a refund if I cancel my vacation because of the flooding?

If you’ve taken out your travel insurance and you’d now like to cancel your holiday due to the floods, you may be entitled to some money back.

Flooding should be included under the natural disasters coverage (although it varies between insurers so check your policy) but this comes with a catch.

Travel insurance will cover holiday cancellations solely when the FCDO recommends avoiding non-essential trips to your vacation spot — at present, they have issued no such advisories for France.

Some providers also require the local or national authorities to state it’s unsafe to travel there. If your holiday provider or airline is operating there as normal and there are no advisories, you won’t get any cancellation cover.

According to gocompare.com , you ought to check out the 'Cancellation and Curtailment' part of your policy, since this might assist with ending your trip early or calling it off altogether because of severe weather conditions.

Additionally, your travel insurance might also fail to provide coverage if severe weather had been predicted for the region. before Once you've made your holiday booking but haven't taken out an insurance policy yet, you won't be covered for 'expected' occurrences.

If you were aware that the weather would be poor but reserved it regardless, you won't receive a refund.

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