The Herminia depression followed the storm Éowynof exceptional violence across the Channel and particularly in Ireland. In Rennes, crossed by two rivers, the Ille and the Vilaine, “we are today (Sunday) at values which are higher than those we observed in 1981, which was a reference year for a flood importance”, commented Nathalie Appéréduring a press briefing this Sunday morning.
The rising waters of the Ille et Rance canal led the town hall to take action on Saturday evening an evacuation order for four streets (rue Jean-Claude Camors and alleys doctors Roger Maruel, Camille Godet and Alphonse Jarry). Residents were asked to find shelter with relatives or in one of the three gymnasiums opened by the city. A crisis unit was opened at the town hall. “Most of the people went to visit relatives, and we had 26 people welcomed last night” in one of the gymnasiums, added the mayor.
Water will continue to rise throughout the region, Vigicrues warned. “After a slight lull, the new rains this Sunday will generate new reactions on many rivers. On rivers already in flood, new increases are expected,” indicated the information service on the floods in its latest bulletin. For Rennes, “it’s the equivalent of 15 days of precipitation” which could still fallspecified the mayor of the city.
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Rail traffic disrupted
Further south, in Les Sables d’Olonne, the Vendée Globe village, established since the start of the round-the-world sailing race on November 10, was closed to the public.
The Herminia depression also led to train cancellations in Normandy, where gusts of up to 110 km/h are expected, SNCF announced. Traffic, particularly between Paris and Cherbourg and between Caen and Rennes, should be disrupted this Sunday and Monday, the railway company warned. The same in Brittany, with the suspension of traffic on the lines between Quimper and Landerneau since 8:30 a.m. and between Rennes and Saint-Malo from 9 p.m.
Snow showers fell during the night in Mayenne, disrupting road traffic.
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