Exceptional Flood Crisis Persists in Western France with High Alert in Loire-Atlantique, Charente-Maritime, and Maine-et-Loire
Western France faces ongoing exceptional flooding, with Loire-Atlantique, Charente-Maritime, and Maine-et-Loire departments under red alert and significant emergency measures underway.
- • Loire-Atlantique, Charente-Maritime, and Maine-et-Loire remain on red flood vigilance as of February 20, 2026.
- • Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu calls for full mobilization and promises quick victim compensation.
- • Angers and Nantes area face significant flooding, evacuations, and road closures.
- • Over 100 emergency interventions made in Loire-Atlantique; 2,000 homes affected in Charente-Maritime.
- • Record 37 days of continuous rainfall contribute to severe flooding and infrastructure disruptions.
Key details
Severe flooding continues to disrupt life in western France as of February 20, 2026, with the departments of Loire-Atlantique, Charente-Maritime, and Maine-et-Loire maintained on the highest level of vigilance — red alert. This ongoing crisis has prompted extensive emergency responses and governmental commitments to aid affected populations.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has called for full mobilization of resources and assured rapid compensation for flood victims. Significant flooding in Angers, a city of 160,000 residents, has led to the overflow of the Maine River. Central areas are inundated, prompting preventive evacuations including an elderly care facility. Authorities expect water levels to continue rising at least through Sunday.
In Loire-Atlantique, parts of the Nantes ring road have been closed due to flooding, and emergency plans have been activated in twelve municipalities. Emergency services have made more than 100 interventions in this region alone. Similarly, in Ille-et-Vilaine, assistance was provided to 13 individuals and 17 barges secured in Rennes.
The Charente-Maritime department is also severely affected, with over 2,000 homes impacted, half of which remain submerged. Transportation has been heavily disrupted, affecting highways and rail networks, exacerbating challenges for residents and responders alike.
Record rainfall amounts over thirty-seven consecutive days — the longest period since 1959 — have contributed to unprecedented water levels in local rivers such as the Garonne, resulting in substantial property damage and more than 15,000 insurance claims filed.
The threat of worsening conditions continues, with authorities warning that floodwaters will rise further. This sustained emergency demands continued vigilance and coordinated response efforts to minimize harm and support affected communities.
The crisis represents one of the most severe flooding events in recent decades, highlighting the vulnerability of these western French departments to extreme weather phenomena and underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive emergency preparedness and response.
This article was translated and synthesized from French sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
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