People in Brittany told to stay home and limit driving as more rain worsens flooding

Residents in Brittany are being warned to take extreme precautions and stay inside as much as possible, as historic river flooding in the region is set to continue today (January 29). 

Read more: Map: River areas to avoid as floods hit the north of France

Three departments in the north-west of France – Ille-et-Vilaine and Morbihan in Brittany and Loire-Atlantique in Pays de la Loire – remain on a tier-four red alert, the highest possible, for river flooding.

Four other departments – Maine-et-Loire, Mayenne, Orne, and Calvados – are at a tier-three orange level. 

Conditions are set to worsen today as a new weather pattern, dubbed Storm Ivo, moves in from the west, bringing further rain. It follows Storms Eoywn and Herminia, which passed over the area over the last week. 

Read more: Temperatures set to drop: French weekly weather outlook January 27 - 31

Over 1,000 people have been evacuated from the Ille-et-Vilaine alone, departmental authorities have announced. However no injuries have been reported from the flooding there so far.

Official advice from local prefectures include: 

• Stay at home and keep the authorities informed (of any new developments)
• Do not drive or walk on a road that is under water, even partially
• Respect the traffic restrictions and diversions in place
• Stay away from waterways

Read more: What to do - and not do - in a red or orange weather alert in France

The government has announced that the process to declare a catastrophe naturelle – natural disaster – in the communes affected will be sped up so victims of the flooding can receive compensation quicker. 

Read more: France’s ‘catastrophe naturelle’ insurance system: how to claim

More than 1,300 firefighters, gendarmes, police officers, and volunteers are helping with the relief effort. 

Firefighters have been using a hovercraft to help evacuate residents from heavily flooded streets. The vehicles are normally used to help find people who have gone missing in the waters near the Mont-Saint-Michel monument and it is the first time they have been used during flooding.

Flooding is set to worsen today 

The two rivers facing the highest warnings – the Seiche and Vilaine – are likely to see current historic high levels maintained through today. 

The Seiche began to recede slightly yesterday evening, however new rainfall will bolster the high levels of the river and swiftly bring it back up. 

The Vilaine river is set to remain at current levels for the next 24 hours or so after reaching its highest peak this morning. 

“New floods are to be feared… more significant than that observed this weekend,” said local authorities in Rennes. 

Other areas in the affected departments are seeing near-historic levels of flooding, including Redon, surrounded by marshes and canals. Schools in the area have been shut until at least Friday (January 31). 

You can keep up to date with information regarding river levels through the official Vigicrues website, and about weather warnings through state forecaster Météo France. 

Those in the affected departments should also keep informed via local information channels.