Haute-Savoie: One missing, evacuations by helicopter after severe weather

Rescue operations are underway in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, a tourist town in France's Haute-Savoie region, after severe weather caused a river to flood and triggered a mudslide.

One individual is currently missing after being swept away by the Giffre river, which surged due to heavy rainfall. The river's overflow also contributed to a mudslide in the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval, a natural limestone amphitheater known for its scenic beauty. Firefighters reported that the missing person is "currently being searched for."

In parallel to the search for the missing person, emergency services evacuated 15 people, including two infants, from the mudslide zone using civil security helicopters. These individuals were safely relocated. A total of 170 people have been gathered at a local restaurant in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, a village of 800 residents that experiences significant summer tourism.

Over fifty firefighters are on the scene, conducting ongoing searches of nearby campsites and hamlets to ensure no one else is in distress. Authorities are advising against travel to the affected area due to the ongoing emergency response and hazardous conditions.