Bad weather in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques: more than 120 emergency services, 1,600 households without electricity – South West

The rise in water levels is increasing, Friday December 10 in the Basque Country and in Béarn. Since Thursday 3 p.m., 121 emergency interventions have already been identified and 25 are still underway at 9 a.m. 1,600 households are deprived of electricity, including 1,100 in the Basque Country and 400 in Béarn, following the fall of trees on the power lines.

The prefecture of Pyrénées-Atlantiques expects more significant floods in the morning. The rivers of the Nive, the Nivelle, the Saison, the Bec de Gave, the Gave de Pau and the Gave d’Oloron are always placed in orange vigilance. Several municipalities in the department are subject to increased vigilance: Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, Cambo, Ustaritz, Urt and Hasparren in the Basque Country, and Pontacq and Laruns in Béarn. “The peak is expected in the middle of the day”, indicates the prefecture, which has activated a departmental operational center (COD) since Thursday, 3 pm.

In total, throughout the department, nine rescues of people were carried out by the emergency services and 20 people were evacuated from their homes. Seven of them have been relocated by their families. The various interventions mobilize at this stage a hundred firefighters from the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (Sdis). 150 Enedis technicians are also at work.

Stuck people

In Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, the Nivelle had already overflowed Thursday evening and Saint-Pée ​​woke up with her feet in the water this Friday morning. In particular, it was necessary to rescue a motorist stuck in his car with water up to the wheel, or an elderly person stranded in his home.

In Saint-Martin d’Arrosa, five people also got stuck in the middle of the road in a truck and a car, on the D918 towards Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Extracted by firefighters, they are unharmed.

In Ascain, a recognition is underway about six stranded people, including two elderly people, stranded in two homes.

Same thing in Gelos where rising waters threaten four houses, currently.

In Pontacq, it took two people aged 89 and 90 to safety on the second floor of their house.

Landslides

In Itxassou, the flow of hill already noted yesterday, had led to the evacuation of several houses of the district of the station. For the time being, on the railway line which links Bayonne to Lower Navarre, rail traffic is still interrupted. On the road side still, school transport passing through Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle will be suspended.

In Biriatou, a landslide led to the evacuation of 20 people, housed in a building with six apartments, and two houses. They have all been relocated, by the town hall or their families.

In Bayonne, this Friday morning, the flood alert is maximum with the rise of the Nive and the Adour. The town hall makes evacuate the vehicles which are parked near the two rivers. The vigicrue alert is red from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Schools and roads closed

In Pontacq, the college and the school are closed this Friday morning.

In Hendaye, Bidassoa reached its alert threshold at 6 a.m. this Friday morning, and the Joncaux school was closed.

The road to Biriatou was closed between the A63 exit and Hendaye / Béhobie, Friday December 10, at 10 a.m.