Severe Flooding Crisis Continues in Western France with Thousands Affected

Three departments in western France—Sarthe, Vendée, and Charente—remain under orange flood alert as of February 22, 2026, while Loire-Atlantique, Charente-Maritime, and Maine-et-Loire are still flagged with red flood warnings following severe flooding events. In Angers, the floodwaters have stabilized, though a slow decrease in water levels is expected. This flood is the worst since 1995, impacting at least 5,000 residents. Authorities have responded with evacuation orders and established three emergency shelters, which had already accommodated 187 evacuees by Saturday evening. Local emergency efforts include the installation of two kilometers of pedestrian walkways to assist affected residents. In Saintes, the Charente River has surged to 6.53 meters, damaging 120 homes and prompting evacuations of around half the affected population. Meanwhile, in Gironde, floodwaters are slowly receding as residents begin cleanup operations after significant inundation. Water levels in Maine-et-Loire peaked overnight, with projections estimating a daily drop of 20 centimeters following a Saturday night rise to 6.39 meters. The situation continues to disrupt daily life, with street closures and public transportation impacts reported in key areas. These ongoing emergency efforts demonstrate the severity of the flooding crisis across multiple departments in western France, as communities struggle with the aftermath and slow return to normalcy.