The town of Givors was surprised by very severe bad weather and especially significant flooding, which exceeded the unpredictable episode of November 2008 that the town suffered.
The Rhône under water. Placed on orange rain-flood and flood alert this Thursday, October 17, the department is experiencing intense rain, causing rapid flooding, particularly in the south of the department. The town of Givors is particularly affected.
Many motorists seem to have been surprised by the waters, which in places almost swallow the cars. The city’s mayor, Mohamed Boudjellaba, activated the municipal safeguard plan with a crisis unit in order to coordinate actions with law enforcement and security forces.
TCL public transport has not been running since 10 a.m. this morning and the company located above the commercial area is being evacuated, BFM Lyon has learned.
Many roads are closed, such as the Route du Gier and the Chemin des Abricôtiers, as well as the approaches to the A47.
A flood higher than that of 2008
The prefecture has also decided to close the highway as a safety measure and calls for people to avoid the area. Vehicles already present on the expressway were caught in heavy rushes of muddy water. At issue: the Gier, a river which completely overflowed its banks and overflowed onto the highway.
Faced with the extent of the bad weather, Gier was finally placed on red alert, the prefecture announced late in the morning.
According to the mayor, there is also a risk of heavy flooding on the Garon as well as other streams. Already, the flood is higher than that of November 2008 which was unpredictable.
