THE death toll from flash floods in southwest France has nearly doubled to 13.

Interior Ministry spokesman Frederic de Lanouvelle said one other person is missing and five are seriously hurt after floods tore through towns, turning streams into raging torrents.

The official said the death toll could still rise further.

Some people had to be helicoptered to safety from the roofs of their homes as overnight storms dumped several months of rain in just a few hours.