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Western France Keeps Three Departments on Red Flood Alert as Waters Push Downstream

High tides with saturated soils will prolong flooding despite drier weather.

Overview

  • Loire-Atlantique, Charente-Maritime and Maine-et-Loire remain at the highest alert on Saturday, with nine others on orange, and levels on the Maine and Loire expected to stabilize Saturday night into Sunday.
  • Angers reports at least 5,000 people affected, more streets closed, tram service disrupted, and the Pont de Verdun fully shut as water continues to rise.
  • In Charente-Maritime, about 1,380 homes in Saintes are flooded and 10 km of raised walkways are in place, while military 4x4 trucks now ferry residents in isolated Courcoury.
  • Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne have been downgraded to orange with a slow, ongoing receding of waters, and road, rail, power and water service disruptions persist in several areas.
  • The government and insurers pledge rapid compensation under a national mobilization following a record 37 consecutive days of rain.