Severe Flooding Hits Central France: A 40-Year Record
In a devastating turn of events, central France has experienced its worst flooding in four decades following two consecutive days of relentless torrential rain. The situation has prompted extensive clean-up operations across the affected regions.
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier reported that emergency responders, including firefighters and rescue teams, have conducted around 2,300 operations, some of which were critical for saving lives. He emphasized the importance of preparedness in the face of climate change, stating, “We must prepare, with climate change, to face risks and disasters in all areas more effectively and frequently.”
Barnier further noted, “The more we prepare together at the level of the countries that are part of this European entity, the better it will be. I have long believed that prevention costs less than repair.” He advocated for a comprehensive approach to disaster preparedness, highlighting various crises—including maritime disasters, industrial accidents, tsunamis, earthquakes, significant floods, large-scale pandemics, and the threat of terrorism—that require collective anticipation and planning at the European level.
The Prime Minister commended the effectiveness of a newly implemented alert system known as FR Alerte. This system was utilized for the first time during the flooding, sending out urgent text messages to residents in affected areas, advising them to postpone or cancel their travel plans and to remain in safe locations.
- Over 1,000 individuals were evacuated from various regions, although most were able to return home by Friday.
- According to the French weather agency Météo-France, some localities in the southern regions of Ardèche and Lozère received an astonishing 700 millimeters of rain within a mere 48 hours.
In Givors, firefighters worked diligently to pump out water as roads and railways became submerged due to the severe flooding on October 18, 2024. The national railway operator, SNCF, suspended regional train services between Lyon and Saint-Étienne, citing impassable tracks. Local train services are expected to remain disrupted for several days as recovery efforts continue.
Additionally, a major highway connecting the two cities was also inundated and remained closed as of Friday. While Météo-France lifted its red alert for adverse weather conditions, it continued to caution residents about the possibility of heavy rain and flooding in southwestern regions.
