Heavy rains flood houses, fields, force evacuation in northern France

Robert Besser
16 Nov 2023, 22:09 GMT+10

Overflowing rivers caused by heavy rains in northern France have flooded houses and fields and forced the evacuation of residents, with some being airlifted to safety
More than 100 towns in the region are on red alert, and around 200 schools have been closed
Meanwhile, strawberry farmer Jean-Loup Mionnet said next spring's harvest was compromised, stressing he will have few to no strawberries

PARIS, France: Overflowing rivers caused by heavy rains in northern France have flooded houses and fields and forced the evacuation of residents, with some being airlifted to safety.

More than 100 towns in the region are on red alert, and around 200 schools have been closed.

"It is catastrophic," said 32-year old poultry farmer Gaetan Guche, who added that the flood waters had killed some of his chickens, and he feared the spread of disease amid the humidity.

"We have to wait for the water to go down before we can see the whole damage. But I have had losses in chickens, financial losses in terms of seeds and equipment, and so today, it is really hard," he said.

Meanwhile, strawberry farmer Jean-Loup Mionnet said next spring's harvest was compromised, stressing he will have few to no strawberries.

"We have never seen something like that," said campsite owner Jean-Marc Joyez in the affected village of Enquin-sur-Baillons.

Dozens of towns would be considered in a situation of natural disaster, which makes it easier for those whose homes or businesses were flooded to benefit from insurance coverage, said Environment Minister Christophe Bechu.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Irish Sun.

More Information

7 ℃

Fair in Dublin

International

Section

Israeli ambassador extends thanks to U.S. president after UN vote

Israel has acknowledged and thanked the United States and President Joe Biden for standing firmly by Israel's side at the ...

E-bike's battery catches fire in New York, killing 1, injuring 6

NEW YORK: This week, New York City officials said that one person was killed and six others were injured when ...

United Kingdom passes on crucial vote to end war in Gaza

NEW YORK, New York - The United Kingdom refrained from supporting demands for a ceasefire in the two-months long Israel-Gaza ...

United States strikes down international demand for ceasefire

NEW YORK, New York - The U.S. was alone on Friday in a 13-1 vote for a ceasefire in the ...

Ex-US ambassador to Bolivia arrested for working for Cuba

WASHINGTON D.C.: The Associated Press (AP) reported that Manuel Rocha, a former American diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to ...

Wisconsin man who firebombed anti-abortion group office pleads guilty

MADISON, Wisconsin: On November 30, Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury from Wisconsin pleaded guilty to firebombing a conservative anti-abortion group's office on ...

Europe

Section