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Man saved in ‘miracle’ rescue amid floods in southwest France
Several weeks’ worth of rain falls overnight around the Pyrenees, and the adverse weather conditions are set to continue today
![jgolby / Shutterstock](https://image.connexionfrance.com/443294.webp?imageId=443294&width=960&height=642&format=jpg)
Areas of southwest France have been hit by two to three weeks’ worth of rain in just 12 hours, with towns and villages being flooded and several people having to be rescued overnight.
Intempéries dans le Sud-Ouest: l'équivalent de 2 à 3 semaines de pluie tombé en 12 heureshttps://t.co/bQ8U2Ib3V8 pic.twitter.com/44S2l2GxXp
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) December 10, 2021
Some 120 litres of rain fell overnight in some places, in a period of precipitation which is being described by Météo France as “remarkable in duration and quantity.”
A 72-year-old man was saved from the floods in a “miracle” rescue by a lifeguard team in Castelnau-Chalosse (Landes), after getting trapped while walking his dogs.
The rescue crew had to swim to reach him but he was eventually found unhurt, clinging to a tree. His dogs were also discovered safe and sound.
"L'eau n'arrête pas de monter": Farah raconte les inondations à Saint-Jean-de-Luz pic.twitter.com/tCCUyEEFcS
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) December 9, 2021
In Cambo-les-Bains (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), the level of the river Nive rose by nearly one metre during the night, moving from 4.86m at 21:20 to 5.73m at 06:00 this morning.
Drivers in this area have found themselves stuck in their cars amid rising water levels and 130 fire and rescue workers have been mobilised “as a precaution.”
Crews were called to around 100 incidents and nine people had to be rescued from floods.
Alerte max à Bayonne #nive #inondations #Alertemeteo @Meteo_Pyrenees @Visitbayonne @Bleu_Basque @P_Basque pic.twitter.com/uULkn13WQE
— edsaintetienne (@edsaintetienne) December 10, 2021
This morning (December 10), Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées, Haute-Garonne, Ariège, Gers and Landes remain under orange alerts for heavy rain and/or flooding. These warnings will last throughout the day and into tomorrow.
Read more: Heavy rain, floods, snow, ice: 11 French departments on orange alert
In mountainous areas, this precipitation will take the form of heavy snowfall.
❄❄❄ Les images des importantes quantités de neige dans les Pyrénées pic.twitter.com/miVNj8vSIc
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) December 10, 2021
In the east of France, Ain, Savoie and Haute-Savoie are also under weather alerts for snow and ice, while several departments have been put on an avalanche warning.
Weather conditions are being aggravated by streams of warm, wet air which carry water vapour with them and result in heavy rain.
The snow currently falling across the Pyrenees and Alps will also contribute to rising river levels in the coming days.
⚠❄🌧 Jusqu'à 1mètre 50 de #neige en plus en montagne et 100 à 200mm de #pluie sur le piémont. Bulletin en ligne👉https://t.co/GkhnBji7LJ 📷Celine Pareja #pyrenees pic.twitter.com/6zYHbvMkfI
— Météo Pyrénées (@Meteo_Pyrenees) December 7, 2021
Situation à Saint-Jean Pied de Port ce matin #pyreneesatlantiques pic.twitter.com/EeOKmkFWXU
— Météo Pyrénées (@Meteo_Pyrenees) December 10, 2021
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