Floods caused by days of non-stop rain in southwest France caused the closure of most of the Catholic sanctuary of Lourdes yesterday and the evacuation of hundreds of pilgrims. The water was around one metre deep in front of the grotto and 80cm in the Avenue du Paradis, where most of the hotels for pilgrims are located, after what officials said was the worst flooding in 25 years. Only the massive basilica, built on higher ground, was still accessible.