More Flooding in Brittany, France

by in Europe

Four departments of France are currently on orange alert after storms and heavy rain brought flooding to areas of Brittany, France.

Météo France say that heavy rain is likley to hit the departments of Finistère, Morbihan, Ille-et-Vilaine and Loire-Atlantique. There is also a threat of thunderstorms, and possibly hail storms. The rains should subside by the evening, but then the area is faced with the threat of yet another strong storm with winds of around 130km/h, which is likely to arrive on Friday 14 February 2014.

The departments of Finistère, Morbihan, Ille-et-Vilaine, Côtes-d’Armor and Loire Atalntique have all seen areas of flooding over the last few days. Redon in Ille-et-Vilaine was particularly badly affected, with around 300 homes left damaged by flooding. In Plancoët, Côtes-d’Armor, around 100 people were evacuated after sevee flooding earlier this week. Châteaulin in Finistère was also badly flooded.

Since then further heavy rainfall has resulted in yet more flooding late yesterday and early today, Thursday 13 February 2014. In Quimperlé, the quay area – les quais Brizeux et Surcouf – is once again under water after the River Laïta burst its banks. There is also flooding in the town of Pont-Aven, where access through the streets of the town has been severely restricted by flood water. In Muzillac the nearby river Saint-Éloi has overflowed. The towns of Pont-Abbe, Pontivy and Nantes have also been affected by flooding.

In similar circumstances to those currently affecting parts of the United Kingdom, Brittany has endured an almost continuous series of floods and storms since early January.

Quimperlé quai Brizeux in January 2014
Quimperlé quai Brizeux in January 2014

Later in February, Storm Qumeira caused flooding and destruction across much of France’s North West region.