Overall Orange Flood
in France

Event summary

Flood can have a medium humanitarian impact based on the magnitude, exposed population and vulnerability.

GDACS ID FL 1102408
Glide number: FL-2023-000258-FRA
Death: 1
Displaced: 743
Countries: France
From - To 30 Dec - 03 Jan

GDACS Score

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Virtual OSOCC
Meteo assessment
Satellite products
Analytical products
France - Floods (ECHO 03 Jan 2024)Wed, 03 Jan 2024 11:31

  • Since 30 December 2023, heavy rainfall has been affecting northern France, particularly in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments, causing floods and the overflows of some rivers, including the Aa, Helpe Mineure and Solre river basins.
  • The Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments are under red flood alert since the afternoon of 2 January 2024 according to Météo-France. The heavy rains are expected to continue until Thursday 4 January in the evening.
  • On 2 January, France activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) requesting 7 high capacity pumps.
  • France accepted offers of pumps and personnel from the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Slovakia that will be deployed as of today 3 January.
North-western Europe - Severe weather (ECHO 04 Jan 2024)Thu, 04 Jan 2024 11:26

  • Heavy rain, snow, strong winds, and cold temperatures are affecting several countries of north-western Europe (particularly northern France, the UK, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Scandinavia).
  • In France, 466 residents have been evacuated in the Pas-de-Calais since 30 December due to flood episode. 10,000 houseolds experienced power cuts in Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments. 2,100 persons are deprived of drinking water. 189 cities are impacted and 70 roads are closed.
  • Germany and France activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). Six EU Member States (Austria, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Sweden) offered assistance to Germany and four EU Member States (Czechia, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Slovakia) offered assistance to France.
  • The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMSR712, EMSR713) was activated in rapid mapping mode to provide damage assessment in Germany.
  • For the next 24 hours, moderate rain is expected over parts of central Germany, western Czechia and northern France. Heavy snow, low temperatures and strong winds are expected over Denmark and southern Scandinavia.
North-western Europe - Severe weather and floods, update (ECHO 05 Jan 2024)Fri, 05 Jan 2024 10:02

  • Widespread floods triggered by heavy rainfall are still affecting several countries in Western Europe particularly France, the UK, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. In the meantime, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland experienced snowstorms and low temperatures resulting in disruptions.
  • According to the Operational Center for Crisis Management (COGIC), in France two people have been slightly injured and 710 others have been evacuated in Pas-de-Calais. In addition, media report almost 2,016 damaged houses. 
  • In the Netherlands, on Wednesday a dike that regulates the water levels was washed away, a number of houseboats were being evacuated as a precaution due to possible river overflow.
  • In Sweden, heavy snow caused huge traffic disruptions. 
  • Germany and France activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and are receiving assistance from four EU Member States.
  • The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMSR712, EMSR713) was activated in rapid mapping mode to provide damage assessment in Germany.
  • For the next 24 hours, light to moderate rain is forecast in Belgium and the Netherlands while light rain and snow with low temperatures are expected across northern Germany. 
Western France, Early January 2024Rivers including the Odet, Isole and Laïta in Brittany, France, rose after heavy rain in early January 2024. Flooding was reported in Finistère department. No damages were reported, as of early 02 January. Local media reported the body of a victim was found in a submerged vehicle on a flooded road in Nantes in Loire-Atlantique on 03 January 2023.Thu 4 Jan 2024Provided by Copernicus EMS GloFAS
Detailed event map. European Union, 2026. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Updates on volcanic activity (Smithsonian)

Estimated casualties (PAGER)

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Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: EC-JRC (36), NASA (3), WMO (1), INFORM (2), (1),