Severe weather in France is ravaging the Ardèche and other French departments. 900 people have been evacuated. According to the Minister of Ecological Transition, the scale of the situation is unprecedented.
“You have to imagine that 60 centimeters of water has fallen in 48 hours. Gigantic,” says Minister for Ecological Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher. She describes the severe weather in the Ardèche as “unseen in living memory”.
Heavy downpours have been lashing several French regions for hours. Nearly 900 people have now been brought to safety. The well-known holiday destination Ardèche is having a hard time. In the town of Annonay, where two rivers meet, even trucks have been washed away. Labegude was also hit hard.
Météo-France declared code red in six French departments due to the risk of flooding. In addition to the Ardèche, the regions of Rhône, Haute-Loire, Loire, Lozère and Alpes-Maritimes were also warned.
Minister Pannier-Runacher calls for caution. “Rivers that seemed calm suddenly change and fill with water, putting you at risk,” she explains. The minister asks to follow the instructions of the emergency services. She promises to monitor the situation closely and make quick decisions.
