The city of Saintes (Charente-Maritime) faces an exceptional flood -

MEHDI FEDOUACH / AFP

While the recession begins in Lot-et-Garonne and in the Landes, all eyes are now on Charente-Maritime, and particularly the town of Saintes, which faces a persistent rise in water levels.

“Significant floods” are now observed over the whole of the Charente and the Boutonne upstream section, placed on orange alert by Vigicrues.

More than 300 firefighters, gendarmes and police officers, reinforced by neighboring departments, are mobilized to help the 22 affected municipalities.

"Means are being mobilized to support the city of Saintes in particular" where the Charente has risen 15 cm in 24 hours, between the provision of picot beds and a gymnasium by the base-school of the army of the air, depending on the prefecture.

190 people have already been evacuated by the emergency services

Business leaders have joined the momentum of solidarity with donations of planks and concrete blocks, to allow residents to walk on footbridges and raise their furniture while water has infiltrated some streets near of the river.

According to the municipality, 190 people have already been evacuated by the emergency services.

In this sector, downstream from the Charente, the water levels will continue "a slow rise during the day on Sunday", with "a plateau" of the flood expected in the day of Monday, according to Vigicrues.

On this section, forecasts predict a rise in water levels of between 6.10 m and 6.20 m on Sunday in Saintes, marking a new “historic” flood which exceeds that of 2007 (5.64 m), but without reaching the records. 1982 (6.84 m) and 1994 (6.67 m), a year marked by a boat visit by President François Mitterrand.

According to Pauline David, director of the mayor's office, the level could reach 6.20 m from 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The commune of Courcoury has become "an island"

If the city center is mainly affected, other surrounding municipalities also have their feet in the water, such as Courcoury, which became “an island” at midday, due to the main road cut, according to the chief of staff of the mayor of Saintes.

In the neighboring department of Charente, on the other hand, the situation seemed to have stabilized in Cognac as well as in Angoulême, even if in the latter sector, the "recession could be slowed down due to rainfall" according to Vigicrues.

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