The Haute-Marne département was hit by a major thunderstorm this Saturday, July 20, resulting in extensive flooding. Five people were hospitalized, mainly for hypothermia, and around thirty others had to be evacuated

According to the prefecture, an “intense thunderstorm episode” caused “severe” flooding, particularly affecting the Bologne, Marault, Annéville-la-Prairie and Meures areas, where ten times more rain fell in one hour than during a normal episode. Eight minor injuries were also reported, as Régine Pam, the departmental prefect, explained mid-day Sunday.

Since 7 p.m. on Saturday, when Haute-Marne was under an orange storm watch according to Météo-France, emergency services have responded to 80 storms. Six departmental roads were cut off, some 60 households were without power and “34 people were evacuated to the Sexfontaines village hall”, reports the prefecture.

The authorities warn that “the stormy episode is not over” and that water-saturated soils could cause “a rapid rise in water levels” in the event of further intense rainfall.

Météo-France confirmed that the Bologne, Meures and Sexfontaines areas were particularly hard hit, with more than 50 mm of water falling in one hour and almost 100 mm in six hours. The Departmental Council described the damage as “considerable”, citing water and mud flows that caused major destruction.

A second storm at around 11 p.m. worsened the situation in Bologna, where “more than a meter of water” flooded streets and houses in just a few minutes

Flooding also affected the Montbard area in Côte-d’Or and the Pays d’Othe between Yonne and Aube. Météo-France lifted the orange “thunderstorm” vigilance for northeastern departments at around 2 a.m., but placed the Puy-de-Dôme and Cantal departments under orange “rain-flood” vigilance on Sunday morning, due to a new rain-storm front.