Paris, October 5 (RHC)-- The death toll from recent flooding caused by torrential rain and violent storms in southeastern France has reached 16. Three people are also unaccounted for following the violent storms and severe flooding that hit the Mediterranean coastline of the southeastern France, known as the French Riviera, over the weekend.

French President François Hollande has said the fatalities may rise. “It’s not over; the toll is not yet finalized. In times like this, we must be fast, efficient and coordinated,” Hollande said as he arrived at a flooded retirement home where a number of people died due to flooding.

According to rescue squads at the French commune of Mandelieu-la-Napoule, at least seven people out of the overall 16 died after their cars became trapped in underground parkings filled with flood waters.

Water also inundated Cannes, Nice and Antibes, which changed the streets of the three glamorous cities into debris-strewn rivers. More than 17 centimeters of rain fell on Cannes in two hours, according to local reports.

French weather forecasters say the worst storms have now passed over the French mainland and are heading for the Italian coast.