Flash floods in south of France kill at least 19 people

People place belongings on the lawn in front of their home after flooding caused by torrential rain in Biot, France, October 4, 2015. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

NICE, France (Reuters) - Nineteen people died in flash floods on the French Riviera over the weekend, prompting the government to declare a natural disaster in the southeastern tourist region.

Some 4,400 homes were still without electricity on Monday afternoon after as many as 70,000 suffered blackouts the previous evening.