Overview
- Authorities list four départements on red alert and nine on orange, with more heavy rain expected as Storm Pedro approaches.
- Rescuers are searching for a 53-year-old swept from a small boat south of Angers, and a senior official says chances of recovery are very low due to the river’s speed.
- France has recorded its longest rainy spell since records began in 1959, and the flood service Vigicrues notes a record 81 departments under simultaneous alerts.
- Bordeaux has activated its emergency plan for the first time since 1999, while Saintes reports flooded central streets and hundreds of affected homes.
- Officials warn the flood peak may not arrive until the weekend, with a brief drying expected from Friday but a slow return to normal, and local media report at least two deaths and widespread power cuts before repairs.