In pictures: Southwest France hit by heavy floods

Torrential rain has forced the evacuation of hundreds in southwestern France

Published: February 09, 2021 15:06 Reuters and compiled by Balaram Menon, Senior Web Editor

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Residents walk in flooded streets by the River Marne after days of rainy weather in Esbly, near Paris. Southwestern France was hit by heavy flooding following days of torrential rain, and several other regions including eastern Paris were on flood alert ahead of a cold snap expected later this week. Image Credit: REUTERS

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The worst flooding was in Saintes, 115 km north of Bordeaux, where the river Charente stood at a near-record level of 6.20 metres. Image Credit: REUTERS

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The waters were at waist level in several streets and knee-deep in large parts of the town. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Hundreds of people were evacuated as water seeping into cellars knocked out power supplies. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Local authorities laid beams on cinder blocks so residents could walk from flooded houses to dry land. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Fire brigade chief Pascal Leprince said his services had evacuated about 400 people in Saintes and he estimated that up to 800 people had left their houses on their own. Image Credit: REUTERS

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To the southeast of Bordeaux, where the river Garonne last week flooded large areas between Marmande and La Reole, floodwaters were receding, but the waters of the Charente were not expected to fall before Wednesday. Image Credit: REUTERS

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"We are at a peak level now. We expect water levels to rise a little more in coming days, and to subside from mid-week," a Charente-Maritime spokeswoman said. Image Credit: REUTERS

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The France Meteo weather service put seven departments on flood alert on Monday, including Charente-Maritime, two areas along the Loire river, the Somme and Oise regions in northern France and the Seine-et-Marne region east of Paris. Image Credit: REUTERS

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In Paris, parts of quays on the river Seine have been inaccessible for days after the river broke its banks, but water levels, at 4.35 metres on Monday morning, remained well below recent highs of 5.88 metres seen in January 2018 and 6.10 metres in June 2016. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Along the river Marne, which flows into the Seine on the eastern edge of the capital, the river broke its banks in several towns, notably in Conde-Sainte-Libaire and Esbly, where several streets were flooded. Image Credit: REUTERS

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A resident walks in his flooded house as the River Marne overflows after days of rainy weather in Esbly, near Paris. Image Credit: REUTERS

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A rescue workers walks in a flooded area to help residents as the Charente River overflows in Saintes, in western France. Image Credit: REUTERS

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A man brings groceries to a resident in flooded streets by the River Marne after days of rainy weather in Esbly, near Paris. Image Credit: REUTERS

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A view shows a flooded house as the River Marne overflows after days of rainy weather in Esbly, near Paris. Image Credit: REUTERS

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