IN PICTURES. Floods, rain, storms… A year ago, historic floods hit Pas-de-Calais

From November 2023 to February 2024, Pas-de-Calais was hit by historic floods, occurring at too regular intervals to allow the victims to bounce back. Houses swept away, waterlogged soils, overwhelmed insurance companies, impassable fields, mega-pumps, cleaning… Exceptional floods which are celebrating their sad first anniversary.

Storm Ciaran took everything away. But the so-called “explosive” depression of October 28, 2023 was only the beginning of a rainy winter, punctuated by repeated storms which left no respite for the inhabitants of Hauts-de-France. Particularly in Pas-de-Calais, an area traditionally marked by flooding.

But the floods that occurred last winter between November 2023 and January 2024 were nothing usual. These floods were traumatic, historic and long. Groundwater and soils saturated with water after weeks of rain were unable to absorb the river floods. Aa, Liane, Canche… Rivers which now make those affected by the floods at the end of last year shudder.

For more than three months, exceptional images, due to their distress or the strength of solidarity that emanates from them, were able to be captured by our teams on the ground. A year later, a look back at these floods, which residents hope to never have to face again.

► Also read: MAP. One year after the floods, where is the work carried out in Pas-de-Calais?

Sand, stones and tarpaulins

In the absence of personal dykes, the inhabitants of Blendecques, Arques and Saint-Etienne-au-Mont had prepared by creating “homemade” cofferdams. Dams made from sandbags, stones, wood, sometimes made available by the town hall, to prevent water from entering their homes.

The storms are raging

A difficult awakening

Underwater, the department finally woke up to see the extent of the damage.

Scoop, again

Throughout the floods, the victims saw their property destroyed multiple times, sometimes causing great trauma. Family books, furniture, jewelry, administrative documents… And an obsession, always: to save again and again, to save what can be saved.

Boats on the road

To help victims get out of their homes, during evacuations, Pas-de-Calais firefighters armed themselves with boots and especially boats.

The elderly were the first to be evacuated by emergency services aboard these makeshift rafts.

Impassable roads

Damage also to farmers

Ministerial visits

Anger roars

Lack of information, floods that could have been avoided, cleaning of stagnant waterways, poor housing… The victims of Pas-de-Calais have expressed their dissatisfaction following the floods.

Particularly in Blendecques, where a collective was formed to never again experience such floods on the Aa, or among farmers, who have on several occasions organized cleanings, on their own initiative.

As for individuals, many had to undertake major work after the bad weather, or wanted to move. But problems with insurance or the value of the property quickly caught up with them.