Impressive images of the Epte flood in the countryside around Gournay-en-Bray

Thursday 09th January 2025 05:33 PM

Par

Marie-Géraldine Dartois

Published on

Jan 9, 2025 at 8:15 p.m.

THE rains abundant on Wednesday January 8, 2025 in Gournay-en-Bray (Seine-Maritime) and the falls of snow have inflated the prices a little moreeauwhich were already at saturation. This Thursday, January 9, the Epte and the Mésangueville, in the country of Bray, largely overflowed their beds and caused floods.

A record flood

To the point that the riverEpte reached a record level. A flood similar to that of 2019 with rainfall peaks of more than 40 mm was recorded, while the rest of the department received between 20 and 30 mm.

An overflow of the Epte which heavily impacted the town of Gournay-en-Bray. Several streets were submerged as well as cellars.

As a precautionary measure, the elderly from the Epte residence and those from the nursing home, a total of 57 people, were evacuated to a secure location. Rue Boucault, which deserted their living space, was flooded with more than 50 cm of water.

The RN 31 was also cut off to traffic.

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The RN 31 near Ferrières-en-Bray was cut off to traffic. ©L’Eclaireur-La Dépêche

The underwater campaign

The countryside of the Pays de Bray around Gournay-en-Bray was not spared from the floods. Along the D915 towards Forges-les-Eaux, the ditches at Ménerval were waterlogged as were the pastures.

On the Dampierre-en-Bray side, the stream La Mésangueville also got out of bed. The fields have transformed into a lake near Gancourt-Saint-Étienne. The municipality (a) was also affected by flooding on Wednesday evening. The road was impassable.

The hamlet of Bouvreuil in the town of Dampierre saw an embankment collapse. Traffic is alternating.

In the countryside of the Pays de Bray between Dampierre-en-Bray, Gancourt-Saint-Étienne and Molagnies the water reaches the edge of the road. ©MG Dartois/L’Eclaireur-La Dépêche

Sandbags to protect yourself

Living next to a river and seeing it flow from your window is bucolic, but during periods of flooding, it can quickly become problematic.

This is precisely what Jean-Louis and his wife have been experiencing since yesterday. The water came up to their door. To protect themselves, they accumulated sandbags to prevent water from entering their homes.

In 2020, we had already seen the river burst its banks, but not to this extent.

Jean-Louis placed sandbags to barricade the openings. The water arrived at the level of its door in the hamlet of Bouvreuil in the town of Dampierre-en-Bray. ©MG Dartois/l’Eclaireur-La Dépêche

Opposite their home, the Bouvreuil mill is surrounded by water.

Water has taken possession of the road on the D916 on the road to Molagnies at the intersection of the D57 towards Cuy-Saint-Fiacre. ©MG Dartois/L’Eclaireur-La Dépéche

On the D916 on the road leading to Molagnies, water invaded the road.

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