Severe Flooding Hits Lot-et-Garonne as Garonne River Remains on Red Alert Amid New Rainfall

The Garonne River continues to pose a serious flooding threat in the Lot-et-Garonne region, remaining under a red alert at least until Monday due to rising water levels and ongoing adverse weather conditions. Authorities have undertaken large-scale evacuations as villages face isolation from floodwaters, with water levels exceeding previous records from 2021.

According to Le Monde, water levels have risen by up to one meter in some areas. Villages near the river have become completely cut off, with residents recalling similar flooding in 2021. The river reached 9.70 meters at La Réole with concerns that dikes could be overtopped. Notably, Tonneins recorded a water height of 9.58 meters, surpassing the 2021 level of 9.51 meters, while Marmande reached 10.24 meters, also exceeding previous figures. Preventive evacuations affected around 500 people in Aiguillon due to fragile dikes, contributing to a total of approximately 900 evacuations across twenty communes in the region.

Le Figaro confirms a total of roughly 1,500 people evacuated in Lot-et-Garonne. The Garonne remains under red vigilance alongside Gironde, with nine departments in France placed on orange flood alerts. Vigicrues, the official monitoring service, anticipates continued rainfall over the next 24 hours, likely to further raise river levels and cause additional flooding. On Saturday, around 80 people were evacuated in Gironde, while preventive measures in Lot-et-Garonne reflect the gravity of the situation.

Besides flooding, other weather disruptions are occurring in northern France, with snow and ice warnings impacting about fifteen departments, including Paris and Hauts-de-France. Snow forecasts range from one to six centimeters, causing airlines to reduce flights and raising concerns about icy road conditions.

With the peak of flooding anticipated on Saturday afternoon in Lot-et-Garonne and early Sunday in Gironde, officials remain vigilant. The precarious state of dikes, isolated villages, and ongoing evacuations highlight the severity of this natural disaster and the urgent need for continued monitoring and response.

The situation remains dynamic as new rainfalls approach, prompting authorities to maintain the highest alert level and reinforce preparedness for potential worsening.