La Réole has to face a major flood.

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E.Provenzano / 20 Minutes

He was able to see the scale of the situation, after a helicopter overflight at the beginning of the afternoon, of the flooded lands of part of Lot-et-Garonne.

Prime Minister Jean Castex pleaded on Friday for the state of natural disaster to be declared "as soon as possible" in the southwestern areas that had suffered heavy flooding, during a visit to the victims in Marmande (Lot-et -Garonne).

"We discussed with elected officials (...) the declaration of natural disaster that we are going to investigate as always with great diligence so that it can be declared as soon as possible", indicated the Prime Minister on the occasion of a short speech.

"Repeating climatic phenomena"

"I would like to underline the strong mobilization of the rescue services which were as usual, quite exemplary", insisted Jean Castex, after having reviewed the manpower of a barracks and exchanged with members of the civil protection and the gendarmerie.

He also spoke with a resident, in whom there was still a meter of mud, and to whom he assured that would be "of course" declared the state of "natural disaster".

"And please, no containment," replied this disaster victim in return.

The Prime Minister also mentioned the need to carry out "more structural actions" in the face of "these recurring climatic phenomena", in particular by "reinforcing dikes".

Some 360 ​​evacuations in Lot-et-Garonne

In Marmande and its surroundings, the Garonne has reached exceptional heights, justifying a classification in red vigilance for 24 hours, but without exceeding the levels of the great flood of 1981 (10.56 m).

Thursday morning, the Garonne had already fallen significantly at Marmande (7.60 m at 9 am).

According to the prefecture, the rising water levels have led to some 360 ​​evacuations in the department, the majority preventively and managed by the municipalities.

In total, the Lot-et-Garonne firefighters have carried out more than 300 interventions, related to the Justine meteorological event and the floods that followed, since last weekend.

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  • Aquitaine

  • Bordeaux

  • Storm

  • Severe weather

  • Flood

  • Society

  • Jean Castex