Seven departments in the South-West were still placed on high orange vigilance this Wednesday. The situation is particularly sensitive in Dordogne, Charente, Charente-Maritime and Gironde, where heavy rains in recent days have led to flooding on land already waterlogged by the rains of October and November. Several rivers experienced “moderate to significant” flooding according to Vigicrues, with a peak expected on Thursday. The departments of Corrèze, Creuse and Lot are also under surveillance.
In Dordogne, numerous excesses have been observed for several days and a crisis unit has been opened by the prefecture. “All operational resources of the firefighters, gendarmes and national police remain engaged,” indicates the prefecture. Since the start of the event, 24 personal assistances have been carried out by Sdis and one by the gendarmerie. » Some 53 roads are affected by flooding, and 18 roads are cut or diverted.
The Vézère at 5.36 meters, the inhabitants of Montignac have their feet in the water
The authorities are carefully monitoring the situation in Montignac-Lascaux, in the Vézère valley, about twenty kilometers north of Sarlat (Dordogne). In this town of 2,800 inhabitants, the La Vézère river burst its banks during the night from Monday to Tuesday. Since then, residents have had their feet in water, and several houses have had to be evacuated. “After a peak at 5.50 meters this morning, the water height settled at a high level of 5.36 meters in the afternoon,” indicates the prefecture. The decline should not begin before Thursday morning. »
In the Mussidan sector, “a significant rebound in water levels is expected and could reach a peak of 3.90 meters during the day,” warns the prefecture. This level is higher than those observed on Tuesday and is monitored particularly by the municipality’s crisis unit and state services. » In the Bonnes sector, “particular vigilance should be observed in the sector in view of the high water level observed and the persistence of the overflows which began on Tuesday”.
The 142 inmates of the Saintes remand center transferred
In Charente, a few homes were evacuated in Saint-Germain-de-Montbron, “whose occupants were temporarily taken into the community hall”, indicates the prefecture. In this town, emergency services also had to intervene to rescue a motorist who had entered a flooded road. The authorities remind you “never drive onto a submerged road”.
In Charente-Maritime, the rainfall in La Rochelle has reached 318 mm since the beginning of November for an annual report of 760 mm in 2022, a drier year, according to the prefecture. The latter says it is monitoring in particular “the rising water levels in the Saintes conurbation”, 80 km south-east of La Rochelle, to the point of carrying out a preventive evacuation of the city’s prison. “Due to the peak flood expected during the day on Thursday in the Charente basin, the 142 inmates of the Saintes remand center will be evacuated tomorrow to other penitentiary establishments,” wrote the prefecture in a communicated. This late 19th century prison located in the city center, on the right bank of the Charente, had already been evacuated to other nearby establishments in February 2021 due to previous floods.
Floods in Médoc and Haute Gironde
In Gironde, several sectors are affected, particularly in the north of the department and in the Médoc, where the commune of Lacanau, on the coast, is experiencing numerous floods. Departmental road 3 between Lacanau and Le Porge is submerged, as is the RD104 between Brach and Lacanau. “We are at 74 departmental roads closed to traffic in the department,” said Wednesday evening in 20 minutes, Jean Galand, vice-president of the departmental council in charge of mobility and infrastructure. There are flood alerts for residents of the Dronne and at the confluence of the Garonne and the Dordogne. »
The municipalities of Pauillac, Castelnau-de-Médoc, Saint-Julien Beychevelle, Lesparre and Lamarque are particularly affected by numerous floods. In Haute Gironde, it is around Blaye, Saint-Savin, Etauliers that the overflows are the most significant. “The soils no longer absorb,” confirms Jean Galand, “because they are so saturated with water that they have exceeded their maximum capacity. »
Even if the end of the precipitation is expected from Thursday, the authorities point out that “this does not mean the end of the flood phenomenon, particularly with regard to the soils which are saturated with water”. Caution therefore “remains essential in the days to come”. “We hope to be able to reopen the roads within 48 hours, but the land will still remain clogged, which poses problems for farmers” raises Jean Galand.