The dramatic floods in Pas-de-Calais: a natural disaster of unprecedented scale
Pas-de-Calais is currently facing a disastrous situation following torrential rains which fell on the department. The bad weather caused significant flooding, flooding the streets and causing significant material damage.
The authorities quickly reacted by placing the department on red alert for floods and rain, and launching evacuation operations to guarantee the safety of residents.
According to Météo-France, these torrential rains are exceptional, with accumulations reaching nearly 100 mm, the equivalent of a month of rain in just a few hours. The situation is all the more worrying as Pas-de-Calais had already been strongly impacted by bad weather in recent days.
This new wave of precipitation amplifies the damage caused by storm Ciaran and the record floods of the Liane, the Aa and the Canche. More than 130 municipalities were affected by the floods, with a total of 300 houses affected.
The authorities are fully mobilized to deal with this disaster. Large-capacity pumps were deployed to absorb the water, and accommodation centers were opened by the Red Cross to help the victims.
In addition, security measures are reinforced, with the closure of schools in nearly 200 municipalities and the interruption of train traffic on certain sections.
The insurer Axa has recorded several hundred claims in the region and expects a total number of around a thousand.
Faced with this catastrophe, it is crucial that solidarity is expressed. The residents of the department and those affected by these bad weather must be able to count on the support of everyone. It is all the more important that the state of natural disaster is triggered quickly, thus allowing the affected municipalities to benefit from the necessary assistance to rebuild.
The consequences of these floods in Pas-de-Calais are unfortunately palpable, and the situation remains worrying. It is essential that the authorities continue to coordinate relief efforts and provide assistance to affected populations.
In these difficult times, the resilience and solidarity of the inhabitants of Pas-de-Calais will be essential to overcome this ordeal and rebuild what has been destroyed.