The devastating impact of a severe storm continues to affect regions of France, particularly in the southwest, where concerns over flooding remain high. On Sunday, the national flood alert agency reported ongoing challenges following relentless rainfall and winter storms that have persisted for the last month.
Ongoing flood risks in France
France has been under either an orange or red weather alert for a staggering 30 consecutive days, according to the latest updates from Météo-France. Lucie Chadourne-Facon, the director of Vigicrues, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “For 30 days we have been in continuous orange or red alert somewhere on the national territory.”
She highlighted that the alerts have affected 81 departments across the country, impacting 154 rivers, thus surpassing previous records. Flooding has wreaked havoc, particularly as the Garonne River overflowed, inundating roads and homes. Soil moisture levels have reached unprecedented highs, with conditions recorded since data collection began in 1959.
Chadourne-Facon warned, “We are facing a generalized flood situation across the entire country because all the soils are saturated everywhere” and have “lost their infiltration capacity.” This saturation has led to severe consequences, prompting authorities to intensify their response measures.
“We have exceeded all our records,” she said.
In the wake of the storms, government spokesperson Maud Bregeon confirmed that there have been fatalities related to Storm Nils, with two reported deaths: one in the Landes department and another in Tarn-et-Garonne.
Storm Oriana’s impact on Spain
Simultaneously, Spain is grappling with the aftermath of Storm Oriana, which hit over the weekend, unleashing torrential rains and ferocious winds. The storm has caused significant disruption to public transport and train services across various regions, including the Basque Coast, Valencia, Mallorca, Andalusia, and Barcelona in Catalonia.
With wind gusts reaching up to 166 km/h, the storm prompted local officials to issue a red alert in Castellón as “hurricane-force” winds battered the area. Emergency services were mobilized to evacuate over 3,000 individuals from hazardous locations.
Social media platforms have been flooded with images illustrating the storm’s destructive power, showcasing fallen trees and emergency responders attending to affected communities. The intense weather has resulted in three confirmed fatalities in both France and Spain, alongside numerous injuries from various storm-related incidents.