Child's body found in sewage pipe following flash floods

An investigation is underway after the body of a five-year-old girl was found in a sewage pipe following a day of torrential rain.

An alert was raised at 5.30pm on Wednesday after the girl disappeared from her home in La Gobarderie, Rumigny, northern France, local media reported.

Only a few hours later, her body was discovered in a filled waste water sewage pipe approximately 20 metres from her house, according to French prosecutors.

On Wednesday, La Gobarderie was hit by flash floods and a storm and police are investigating whether she was dragged away by an unusually strong river flow.

A counselling unit has been set up at the child's school.