Devastating floods are once again affecting the Pas-de-Calais department, in the north of France. The Liane and Aa rivers overflowed their banks, causing significant material damage and leading to the evacuation of many people.
Residents of surrounding communities, such as Boulogne-sur-Mer and Saint-Omer, were particularly affected by these floods, which were described as “historic” by Vigicrues. Entire neighborhoods were submerged by water, making access difficult or impossible. The mayor of Saint-Etienne-au-Mont, Brigitte Passebosc, testifies to the disastrous situation, with an entire district under water and an impacted city.
Emergency services had to intervene to evacuate residents in danger, some having been trapped in their homes. Fortunately, there were only a few minor injuries and one tragic death in the neighboring department of Charente, where a 70-year-old man died of hypothermia after falling into the Charente river.
The authorities have taken precautionary measures, closing schools in nearly 70 municipalities, to ensure the safety of students and teaching staff. Emergency accommodation centers were also set up by the Red Cross to accommodate evacuees.
Despite the improvement in the situation in the evening, with the lifting of the red alert for the Liane and Aa basins, vigilance remains required for the Canche basin. Indeed, further precipitation is expected in the coming days, which could worsen the situation.
These floods are a reminder of the urgency of taking action to address climate change and extreme weather events. It is essential to strengthen flood prevention infrastructure and raise public awareness of these risks in order to minimize the devastating consequences of such events.
In conclusion, the floods of the Liane and the Aa caused significant damage and disruption in the Pas-de-Calais department. Vigilance remains required in the face of new precipitation forecasts. It is crucial to continue efforts to prevent and effectively manage these flood-related emergencies.