France: Authorities announce start of water receding after record floods in western part of the country

Western France is beginning to see a "light at the end of the tunnel" after a series of devastating floods that hit the region in the second half of February 2026. Although water in rivers such as the Sarthe and Charente is starting to recede, the process is exceptionally slow due to the complete saturation of the ground with moisture. In the department of Charente-Maritime, specifically in Saintes, the water level reached a critical 6.60 meters, directly affecting over 2,600 households. Local authorities, led by Mayor Bruno Drapron, describe the situation as "hell," emphasizing the exhaustion of residents who are dealing with flooding for the eighth time in a decade. France's flood protection systems are based on historical experiences from the great Paris flood of 1910, but current climate changes mean that old records, such as the one from 1995 in Ancenis, are regularly being exceeded.Despite the still active alerts, optimism is fueled by weather forecasts predicting a rapid warming. From Tuesday, temperatures in some regions could rise to as high as 25 degrees Celsius, which favors evaporation and the drying of buildings. This allows for planning an almost normal return of children to schools after the holidays in the affected regions, although some facilities will remain closed due to structural safety concerns. „C'est un enfer” (It's hell) — Bruno Drapron Rescue services continue to patrol flooded streets using boats and amphibious vehicles, trying to prevent looting of property in abandoned homes. Many residents, affected by the trauma of repeated floods in short intervals (the last major floods occurred in 2021), declare their desire to permanently move away from flood-prone areas. Rescue logistics face numerous barriers, especially in medical transport. Community nurses in the department of Gironde are forced to take detours of dozens of kilometers to reach patients because key communication arteries, such as the D2089 road near Libourne, remain impassable. „On voit la petite lumière au loin” (We see the small light in the distance) — Météo-France Although the peak of the flood wave on the lower Loire passed last weekend, specialists from the Vigicrues service warn that the high groundwater level means the process of drying out basements and ground floors of houses will be measured in weeks, not days. The coming days will be crucial for assessing the durability of flood embankments, which have been under extreme water pressure for a long time.