Flooding in Western France: Loire River Swells, One Man Missing
Western France is grappling with severe flooding as torrential rains continue to swell the Loire River, leaving entire villages isolated and prompting mass evacuations. A 53-year-old man is missing after being swept away while attempting to navigate the swollen river near Chalonnes-sur-Loire, south of Angers.
The country marked a record-breaking streak of 35 consecutive days of rain on Wednesday, exacerbating the crisis. As of Friday, three departments – Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire, and Charente-Maritime – remained under red flood warnings, with 14 others on orange alert, according to French monitoring services.
Authorities are preparing for full evacuation of the small town of Cheffes-sur-Sarthe in Maine-et-Loire, home to approximately 1,000 residents, as the Sarthe River reached 6.63 meters (21.7 feet) on Friday morning, with forecasts predicting further rises through the weekend. Conditions in Angers are also critical, with the Maine River surpassing projected levels, climbing about 15 centimeters in the past 24 hours, leading to flooding in parts of the city center.
The flooding was triggered by heavy rainfall driven by Storm Pedro, which swept across parts of France earlier this week. The national flood monitoring service, Vigicrues, stated that the floods will continue to spread despite calmer weather, as river levels remain elevated downstream.
Amidst the rising waters, some residents are adapting to the situation. André Petit, who lives year-round on an island in the Loire near Souzay-Champigny, described the situation calmly. “It’s not a constraint, I cross according to my needs, my desires,” he said. “I don’t consider myself among those who complain, I chose to live here.” He noted he had rarely seen the river so high and expressed concern about the potential impact of continued climate change.
While Petit has adapted, the situation is dire for many others. Thousands of residents are facing rising waters, and emergency crews are continuing response and monitoring operations. The orange alert for strong winds in southern departments, including Pyrenees-Orientales and Aude, was lifted on Friday after gusts reached up to 147 kilometers per hour in Leucate.
However, the threat remains in other areas. Four Alpine departments – Isere, Haute-Savoie, Savoie, and Hautes-Alpes – remain under orange alert due to heightened avalanche risks. Authorities are urging vigilance in affected areas.
French Environment Minister Monique Barbut has highlighted climate change as a contributing factor to the severity of the floods, emphasizing the need to address the artificialisation of land and improve resilience to such events. The ongoing situation underscores the increasing challenges posed by extreme weather events in Europe.
