France Underwater: Cyclone Pedro Hits Western Regions of the Country

The hydrological situation in France is described by experts as unprecedented in terms of scale and duration. The Vigicrues service has issued red alerts for four departments, including Gironde and Maine-et-Loire. In Bordeaux, where the Garonne river is rising rapidly, authorities have activated the Municipal Emergency Plan for the first time since 1999. The difficult situation is compounded by the phenomenon of a backwater effect triggered by high tide levels and winds blowing at speeds of up to 130 km/h. Rescue services are searching for a missing man in the Loire department, raising fears of the first fatalities from the disaster. The historic floods in France in 1999, caused by hurricanes Lothar and Martin, led to significant changes in meteorological warning systems and the construction of flood defenses in the Garonne valley.Transport infrastructure has also been paralyzed. SNCF has suspended train services on routes between Toulouse and Narbonne, and the station in Bayonne has been completely shut down. In Paris, due to the rising level of the Seine, the Tuileries tunnel and key riverside roads have been closed. Meanwhile, in Spain, the Duero river has burst its banks, forcing residents of Puente Duero to evacuate. Although forecasts predict a slight improvement in weather from Friday, the current saturation of the ground means the risk of flash flooding remains high. „This is the first time since the historic flood in December 1999 that we have had to activate such advanced public protection measures in our city.” — Pierre Hurmic2026-02-18T18:00: 90, 2026-02-19T00:00: 110, 2026-02-19T06:00: 13035 days — record-breaking series of rainfall in FranceFrench media focus on insufficient investment in water retention infrastructure in the face of climate change. | Commentators highlight the efficiency of rescue services and the need for individual responsibility among residents.