Widespread flooding hits Pas-de-Calais, damaging more than 2 000 homes, France

Following severe rainfall, Pas-de-Calais faces its second major flood in recent months, affecting hundreds of residents and leading to significant emergency responses, including 710 rescues since December 30.

Northern France’s Pas-de-Calais department is once again confronting severe flooding after recent heavy rainfall caused rivers to swell beyond their banks. Flooding has impacted wide areas, marking the second major flooding event in the region in recent months.

Rivers have been on high alert since late December 2023, with the Aa River currently at the critical Red Alert stage and several others like Hem, Canche, Lys-Plaine, and Lys-Amont at the Orange level. Although the water levels peaked on January 3, they are expected to remain high for an extended period, posing ongoing risks.

The scale of the disaster is significant, with approximately 189 municipalities bearing the brunt of the flooding. The government’s report on January 4 indicated that 1 299 homes have been impacted, leading to the evacuation of 371 individuals by fire departments and local authorities. By January 5, more than 2 000 homes were damaged, according to local media reports.

Around 700 firefighters are working with police forces to manage the situation, focusing on rescue operations, recovery efforts, and ensuring the safety and protection of the affected communities. Their commitment has led to almost 600 interventions as of January 4, with one firefighter injured during a mission in Aire-sur-la-Lys.

In a recent development on Thursday night, firefighters successfully rescued an additional 59 people, bringing the total number of individuals saved since December 30 to 710.

However, the aftermath of the floods continues to disrupt daily life, with around 500 residents in areas like Audomarois, Calaisis, and Boulonnais left without electricity. Moreover, water use restrictions have been imposed on 2 100 people in the municipalities of Rebreuve-Ranchicourt, Hermin, Caucourt, and Gauchin-Legal, with authorities distributing bottled water to address immediate needs.

The situation remains critical in various localities, with recent evacuations reported from around 30 homes in Thérouanne and several other towns like Delettes, Quernes, Lumbres, Auchy-lès-Hesdin, Aire-sur-la-Lys, Arques, and Blendecques.

The widespread flooding affecting the Pas-de-Calais is part of a broader climatic phenomenon impacting several Western European countries, including France, the UK, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Concurrently, the Nordic countries of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland are grappling with their own severe weather challenges, facing snowstorms and extremely low temperatures causing widespread disruptions.

The Netherlands has experienced significant issues with its water management infrastructure, prompting evacuations from houseboats due to a breached dike and the threat of river overflow.

In Norway and Sweden, heavy snow has led to major traffic disruptions, underscoring the varied impacts of the extreme weather across the region.

In response to the escalating situation, Germany and France have activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), receiving support from four EU Member States to manage and mitigate the effects of these natural disasters. Additionally, the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMSR712, EMSR713) has been activated in Germany, employing rapid mapping mode to assess and document the damage.

Belgium and the Netherlands are expected to experience light to moderate rainfall over the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, northern Germany is bracing for a mix of light rain and snow accompanied by persistently low temperatures.

References:

¹ France – Hundreds Evacuated Again After Further Floods in North – January 4, 2024 – FloodList

² North-western Europe – Severe weather and floods, update – DG ECHO – January 5, 2024

Featured image credit: Sapeurs Pompiers du Pas de Calais SDIS 62