The Minister of Ecological Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher described Thursday October 16 the episode of torrential rains which hit certain areas of Ardèche as “ absolutely massive » and mentioned a “ unprecedented situation. » Nearly 900 people evacuated in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, announces the prefecture.
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Six departments are placed on red alert for floods or rain-floods, Météo France announced Thursday October 17. Lozère, Alpes-Maritimes, Loire, Rhône, Haute-Loire and Ardèche are affected by this alert.
“ We are facing a situation that is unprecedented in its scale. 600 millimeters of water on the Ardèche is unheard of in living memory », indicated the Minister of Ecological Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher during a press briefing. “ 600 millimeters is more than 60 centimeters of water that fell in 48 hours. It’s absolutely massive. »
According to the minister, the south of France faces “ three different meteorological episodes: a Cévennes episode in the Ardèche, a Mediterranean episode in the Alpes-Maritimes and a depression which is in the process of moving up from the Pyrénées-Atlantiques towards the north and which could reach Île-de-France in the evening. »
“ Because of this depression “, Météo-France has been saying since 4 p.m. “ nine additional departments and Paris inner suburbs on orange alert “, she added.
“ All calculations were overwhelmed by the impact of precipitation »
The minister then mentioned the case of the Ardèche town of Annonay, crossed by two rivers, where the waters rose suddenly on Thursday when the Ternay dam, to the north, overflowed.
“ I remind you that Annonay was the subject of a reinforced risk prevention plan following the 2014 flood », indicated Ms. Pannier-Runacher. But “ all the calculations, all the installations which aimed to prevent a flood were overwhelmed by the impact of the precipitation “.
The minister called for “ caution and compliance with the instructions of the emergency services “. “ We observe kinetics which can change very quickly and watercourses which seemed to be calm, which suddenly change and swell with water with risks for you », explained the minister.
Several roads have been closed in the department due to flooding or landslides, according to the prefecture. The large-scale Cévennes episode requires “ special vigilance due to the very heavy rainfall expected. Exceptional precipitation on the relief of Ardèche », notes Météo-France.
“ I also invite, and this is a message from the Ardèche prefecture, to wait until the emergency services invite you to do so to pick up your children from schools. “, she added, affirming that they were ” safe “.
In Givors, south of Lyon (southeast), the Gier river also overflowed.