Torrential rains cause damage and road closures in the Pyrénées-Orientales

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Very restless night in the Pyrénées-Orientales. The driest department in France experienced a very intense stormy episodein recent hours, like News Perpignan announced it to you. The seaside was particularly affected, with impressive rainfall amounts. Several rescue operations took place.

More than 120mm of rain by the sea

He fell more than 120mm of water on the Catalan coastin recent hours. A stationary storm swept across the east of the Pyrénées-Orientales, during the night of Thursday 7 to Friday 8 November. Torrential rains poured on Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque, Saint-Cyprien, Canet-en-Roussillon and even Torreilles.

Emergency services and law enforcement were involved in numerous interventions. In Canet-en-Roussillon, five roads were closed to traffic (they have since been able to reopen, editor’s note), two cars were blocked in the water, two apartments were floodedcausing the occupants to be rehoused, and another flood took place in a building in the seaside resort.

Three people rescued from their car

If no injuries were reported in Canet-en-Roussillon, three other motorists suffered a huge scare near Saint-Cyprien. Stuck in their car and surprised by the rising watersthe latter were rescued by the Pyrénées-Orientales firefighters.

The fording of the RD 617B at Villelongue-de-la-Salanque remains closed this Friday morning. Further rain is expected today on the Catalan coast, before the return of the tramontana this weekend, putting an end to this very humid easterly flow.

A stationary storm on the coast

Unlike the episode of rain which fell across the Pyrénées-Orientales at the end of October, last night's storm remained stationary and affected almost exclusively the coastline, explaining quite significant differences in precipitation accumulations according to the sectors of the department.

More than 120mm of rain was recorded between Canet-en-Roussillon and Torreilles for example. But a few kilometers from the seaside, “only” 60mm fell on the Argelès-sur-Mer side and 25 to 30mm in the Perpignan area.

Inland, residents only experienced a few drops. There is barely 5mm from Boulou, Soler or Tautavel. The west of the Pyrénées-Orientales was not at all affected by these Mediterranean storms.

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