FLOODING IN LOURDES CLOSES THE SHRINE TO PILGRIMS

The Lourdes shrine has closed due to severe flooding in southwest France. Hundreds of pilgrims have been evacuated and a 70 year old woman was killed. The Gave de Pau river has overflowed.

The Mayor of Lourdes, Jean-Pierre Artiganave, has said that shrine will not reopen until safety can be assured. 

"We need more reinforcements in the area to face these floods, which are really exceptional," French Interior Minister Manuel Valls. 

Donations can be made at the Lourdes website: http://en.lourdes-france.org/. 

There was about five feet of water in the grotto. Many pilgrimages to Lourdes have been cancelled. (Image source: Google/various news sources)